Israeli-Arab War

[American Patriot]

3 Patriot batteries stationed in Haifa
Yedioth Ahronoth ^ | July 15, 2006 | Hanan Greenberg

The IDF has stationed three Patriot anti-ballistic missile batteries in Haifa Saturday, aimed at intercepting missiles launched at the area. Two of the batteries were deployed Saturday morning, and the third one was placed in the area in the afternoon.

Patriot missiles were stationed across the country for the last time in 2003 during the Iraq War.

The American-made Patriot batteries are part of Israel’s antiaircraft defense system. The Patriot system, which was initially designed to serve as an air defense platform, later assumed the role of an anti-ballistic system. The Patriot is still in use in Israel, and the country simultaneously continues to develop the Arrow missile aimed at intercepting ground-to-ground missiles fired at the country.

IDF sources said that the batteries’ deployment is the result of “an evaluation of the situation,” and confirmed they were placed in Haifa in wake of the current confrontation on the northern border.

The army is aware that in light of the developments in the operation, Hizbullah may employ different means in order to target Israel’s home front. “In addition to the long-rang rockets Hizbullah possesses, it may also use explosive drones or any other weapon,” a senior officer said.

[American Patriot]

IDF: We destroyed Lebanon’s coastal radars
YnetNews ^ | 7/15/06

Lebanon Radar Destroyed. Major-General Eizenkot, head of the General Staff Operations Branch: “In the evening hours we destroyed all of Lebanon’s coastal radars. The reason for the radars’ destruction was the part they played in the attack on an Israeli missile boat on Friday.”

(Excerpt) Read more at ynetnews.com ...

[American Patriot]

Attacks raise fear of wider war

By Betsy Hiel
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Friday, July 14, 2006

The expansion of Israeli-Palestinian fighting into Lebanon raises fear of a broader war erupting in the volatile Middle East.

More than one observer suspects Syria and Iran are behind the attacks that prompted Israel's military response -- and wonders if they may be next in Israel's gunsights.

"This military escalation (by) Hezbollah is extremely significant," said Wayne White, former deputy director of the U.S. State Department's intelligence office. "I find it very hard to believe that Hezbollah would have engaged in, one, rocket attacks on Israel and, two, the initiation of a hostage crisis with Israel, without consultations with Tehran."

Israel struck by land, sea and air against Lebanese targets Thursday after Hezbollah guerrillas kidnapped two Israeli soldiers and killed eight others. For nearly a third week, Israeli forces also hit targets in the Gaza Strip, where Hamas militants are holding another Israeli soldier.


The attacks on Hezbollah and on Lebanon's infrastructure -- including Rafik Hariri International Airport -- killed more than 50 civilians and wounded 100. Hezbollah retaliated by raining Katusha missiles on northern Israel, killing two civilians and wounding more than 50.

Yet David Schenker, a senior fellow of Arab politics at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, questioned "the wisdom of going after Lebanese infrastructure. I think the address is really Syria and Iran."

Fawaz Gerges, a professor of Middle Eastern studies at New York's Sarah Lawrence College, is in Beirut and called the situation there "really serious. People are really anxious."

"It is one thing to say what Hezbollah did was wrong," said Gerges, author of Journey of the Jihadist: Inside Muslim Militancy. He said many Lebanese "told me they don't agree with Hezbollah. Yet Israel seems to be going out of its way to collectively punish the whole population."

Israel holds Lebanon responsible for its soldiers' kidnapping -- despite official denials of involvement -- because Hezbollah is part of the Lebanese government. Many Lebanese had hoped that encouraging Hezbollah to join the political scene would moderate its militancy, but the Lebanese government never disarmed it.

The United States and Israel classify Hezbollah as a terrorist organization.

Syria, which withdrew its troops from Lebanon only a year ago, is widely considered to be a sponsor of Hamas and Hezbollah. Most experts say Syria is a transit point for weapons shipped from Iran.

Michael Young of the Lebanese Daily Star wrote Thursday that Syria is "at the heart of a network of destabilizing developments in the Middle East," including in Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon.

Experts think it is very possible that Israel will attack Syria if it feels threatened.

"Something that could light a fuse to another front would be if the Israelis spot Iranian transports going into Damascus International Airport," warned White, the former State Department intelligence official.

Two weeks ago, Israeli warplanes buzzed a summer residence of Syrian President Bashar Assad, after Israeli officials accused Syria of encouraging Hamas.

Betsy Hiel is a Middle East correspondent for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. She can be reached at hielb@yahoo.com.

[American Patriot]

Lebanon asks Turkey to help mediate
Jersalem Post ^ | Jul. 15, 2006 18:47 | ASSOCIATED PRESS


Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday spoke by phone with his Lebanese counterpart Fuad Saniora, who requested Turkish mediation for a cease-fire to end the spiraling violence in the Middle East, an official said.

The Turkish premier told Saniora Turkey would "make every kind of contribution" for a cease-fire, Erdogan's spokesman, Akif Beki, told The Associated Press, but gave no further information.

Predominantly Muslim Turkey has been trying to play a mediating role between Israel and Palestinians and has criticized Israel, a close ally, for using excessive force in its offensives in the Middle East.

Earlier on Saturday, Erdogan racheted up the criticism, accusing the country of engaging in ruthless violence.

Erdogan also called on the powerful Group of Eight nations, currently meeting in Russia, to reach a joint decision that would allow the United Nations Security Council to establish a cease-fire to end the spiraling violence.

The G-8 countries, the United States, Russia, Japan, Germany, Britain, France, Italy and Canada, were expected to issue a declaration on the Lebanon crisis.

"No reason can ever justify the raining of bombs on innocent civilians, the destruction of cities that exceed the limits of mercy," Erdogan said during a ceremony to launch a housing project in the eastern city of Artvin, according to the Anatolia news agency.

"I appeal to the G-8 countries: the G-8 must reach a common decision, the U.N. Security Council must declare a cease-fire," he said.

At least 88 people have died in Lebanon, most of them civilians, in a four-day Israeli offensive sparked by Hezbollah's capture of two Israeli soldiers in a cross-border raid. On the Israeli side, at least 15 have been killed; four civilians and 11 soldiers.

Also Saturday, Turkey evacuated some 30 of its citizens from Lebanon by bus through Syria.

A bus carrying mostly Turkish businessmen and tourists crossed into Turkey at the Turkish-Syrian border crossing of Yaylidere early Saturday. It also carried two French citizens, Anatolia said. Several Lebanese and French citizens also arrived at Yaylidere in private cars or taxis to escape the fighting, the agency reported.

[American Patriot]

UK warships heading for Lebanon
BBC On Line ^ | 15 July 2006


Defence Secretary Des Browne has given orders for HMS Illustrious and HMS Bulwark to "make ready" for operations off Lebanon. The pair will depart as soon as necessary, possibly within 24 hours.

No order for evacuating UK citizens has yet been given, but ministers and defence staff are considering a plan to evacuate those trapped in Lebanon.

It comes as Israel has stepped up its strikes in Lebanon after Hezbollah militants seized two Israeli soldiers.

HMS Illustrious is currently in Gibraltar and HMS Bullwark is close to Spain.

The decision whether to proceed with an evacuation plan has not yet been taken and no orders have been given.

The Foreign Office has urged British citizens to keep a low profile and warned against travelling there.

Meetings on the evacuation plan are taking place at the Ministry of Defence.

An MoD spokeswoman said the two ships had been given "no specific tasking", but added: "As you would expect we are monitoring the situation closely and are engaging in prudent contingency planning."

"As part of this HMS Illustrious and HMS Bulwark will shortly head towards the region," she said.

[catfish]

Israel is giving Syria 72 hours to call off hizbollah, I dont like this one bit.

London-based Arabic language newspaper Al-Hayat says Israel gave Syria 72 hours to stop Hizbullah’s activity, bring about release of kidnapped IDF troops. ‘Israel will not end military activity until new situation created that will prevent Syria, Iran from using terror organizations to threaten its security,’ newspaper quotes Pentagon official as saying
Roee Nahmias

The London-based Arabic language newspaper Al-Hayat reported Saturday that “Washington has information according to which Israel gave Damascus 72 hours to stop Hizbullah’s activity along the Lebanon-Israel border and bring about the release the two kidnapped IDF soldiers or it would launch an offensive with disastrous consequences.”

Read entire article here: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7...275886,00.html

[American Patriot]

See survival area messages, those who have access.

[American Patriot]

US, Brits are going to try to get citizens out of Lebannon.
The 72 hours that Israel gave is a... wow... scary thing.

[American Patriot]

IDF: Operation in the Gaza Strip to intensify, likely to continue for at least two more months
Harretz.com ^ | July 15, 2006 | Avi Issacharoff, Gideon Alon, Amos Harel, Aluf Benn, Mijal Grinberg and Yuval Azoulay,

The Israel Defense Forces will intensify and broaden the scope of its raids into the Gaza Strip in the coming days, senior IDF sources told Haaretz on Sunday.

The same sources said that Operation Summer Rains was likely to last two months, and during the cabinet meeting Sunday Prime Minister Ehud Olmert warned that this was a "war in which it is impossible to set time limits."

(Excerpt) Read more at haaretz.com ...

[American Patriot]

ALERT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Assad pledges Syrian help for Lebanon
Associated Press ^ | Saturday, July 15, 2006 | AP

DAMASCUS (Reuters) - Syria will put its resources at the disposal of Lebanon to help cope with Israeli attacks devastating the country, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad told Lebanese President Emile Lahoud by phone on Saturday.

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The official news agency SANA said Assad expressed solidarity with Lebanon, where Israeli bombing has killed around 100 civilians since Hizbollah captured two Israeli soldiers in a cross-border operation on Wednesday.

It was the first comment by Assad since the confrontation began between Israel and Hizbollah, which is backed by Syria and Iran.

SANA did not say whether Assad discussed Hizbollah during the telephone call with Lahoud and gave no details on what kind of help he was offering.

(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...

[American Patriot]

Peretz to declare ‘special situation’ in home front
ynetnews.com ^ | Ronny Sofer

(VIDEO) Announcement to allow shutting down schools, operating essential industries and closing certain areas for traffic. The aim: Cutting down damages and assisting fighting

VIDEO - Defense Minister Amir Peretz is set to declare Saturday the coming into effect of a “special situation” in the home front. The announcement will enable the security forces to instruct the shutting down of schools, to operate essential industries and to close certain areas for traffic. The declaration is aimed at narrowing the damages of the expanding fighting in the north.

Rockets hit Tiberias (Video: Yaron Brenner)

Peretz ordered the Home Front Command chief to conduct a detailed mapping of the areas in which the instruction is set to be implemented. This will serve the IDF chief of staff, the Northern Command chief and other bodies in giving out instructions that will protect and save lives and property.

In the framework of this new decree, the authorized elements will be able to issue orders in designated areas that will be defined as exposed to the rocket threat, in order to protect the population.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and the government’s secretary Israel Maimon were notified of the decree Saturday afternoon. The cabinet is set to discuss an expansion of the decree within 48 hours, and it will also be discussed by the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.

700 rockets launched at Israel

In a briefing held by the senior IDF Air Force, Navy and intelligence officials on Saturday it was reported that some 700 rockets have been fired at Israel’s territory in recent days, 100 of which on Saturday alone.

Major-General Gadi Eizenkot, head of the General Staff Operations Directorate, said that “the attacks were aimed at hurting Israeli civilians. We are making a great effort to curb the terrorists’ capabilities. The people of Israel, who have shown impressing resilience, are being asked to remain in protected areas.”

“I can say that the enemy has sustained much greater damages than it expected. And we are pleased with the scope of our strikes against Hizbullah,” he stated.

[American Patriot]

Olmert's associates: No ceasefire until abducted soldiers returned
ynetnews.com ^ | 7/15/2006 | Ronny Sofer

Officials at the Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's office responded to the ceasefire request by Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora and said that dismantling the Hizbullah and deploying the Lebanese army along the Israeli-Lebanese border are some of the objectives of the IDF operation. They also said that "There won't be ceasefire until the two abducted soldiers are returned."

[American Patriot]

Mess with Israel at your peril
Uri Dromi International Herald Tribune

Published: July 14, 2006

JERUSALEM The recent outburst of violence in the Middle East might look like just another one of those cyclical rounds in which Arabs and Israelis grab at each other's throats. Yet at stake is something much more serious: the ability and the willingness of Arabs to accept the existence of Israel in their midst.

Twice in the history of the Arab-Israeli conflict, in 1948 and in 1967, the Arabs tried to destroy Israel. In 1948 there was a premeditated plan resulting in a concerted attack by five armies, charging the newly-born Jewish state from all directions. The Arabs of Haifa, for example, were advised by their "brothers" in Syria to leave temporarily to Beirut, because, they boasted, "in two weeks we will throw the Jews into the sea."

The rest is history. When the war was over, the Jews had the land, and the Arabs of Haifa, their children and their grandchildren became refugees in Lebanon. The anniversary of 1948, which in Israel is celebrated as Independence Day, is mourned by Palestinians as Naqba (Arabic for catastrophe).

The Six Day War was not planned, but was rather an escalation. President Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt intoxicated himself and the Arab masses into believing that this time Israel could be knocked out. When the guns went silent, the Arabs once again had reasons to regret their aggression, with the West Bank and Gaza in the hands of Israel.

Since then, we have had the Yom Kippur War, the Attrition War, the Lebanon War, two intifadas and endless terror. Israel has not only survived, but has become stronger. It is a vibrant and prospering democracy, with robust economic growth over the last five years, the highest number of books published per capita in the world, and second place in the world in the publication of articles in scientific journals.

The Arabs, in the meantime, with all their aggression, have only brought on their peoples misery and poverty. President Anwar Sadat of Egypt and King Hussein of Jordan tower above this self-destructiveness as leaders who really served the best interests of their people by making peace with Israel.

So now Hamas and Hezbollah are again feeling Israel's muscles, to see if we have mellowed. It has long been the idea of Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, that Israel has become weak, like a cobweb that can be easily torn apart, or better, destroyed from within. These people, who mistake democratic life for weakness, just can't grasp the fact that a democracy, if attacked, will always have the upper hand because free and proud people who fight in self defense will not be defeated.

The Arabs' cries of joys over the kidnapping of Israeli soldiers will soon turn into cries of pain, when Israel brings home the message that no, it hasn't mellowed. And when the dust settles, Arabs will once again realize that their aggression against Israel only strengthens the Jewish state and weakens the Arab cause.

Hamas, with its reckless conduct, will move the world community to declare the Palestinian Authority a failed state. Hezbollah, with its arrogance, will stir the rage of the Lebanese people, who will be fed up with its disastrous acts. The Lebanese have already demonstrated their capability vis-ÃÂ*-vis the Syrians, when they had enough of them in Lebanon.

Finally, if I were President Bashar al-Assad of Syria, I would wipe the smile off my face and start worrying. Soon enough, this troublemaking Alawite dictator of Sunni Syria, who has hosted every terrorist organization in the region, will learn the hard way the basic lesson of the Arab-Israeli conflict: If you mess with Israel, Israel wins and you lose.

Uri Dromi is the director of international outreach at the Israel Democracy Institute in Jerusalem.

[American Patriot]

A war Israel must win
ynetnews.com ^ | 7/15/2006 | Sever Plocker

If Hamas, Hizbullah win war they have declared, Zionist project is nearing end of its days

This is no competition of false machismo. This is a fateful decision: Even if these two radical Islamic movements gain symbolic propaganda victories – it could free other enemies around the Middle East. The need to win this war is absolute. There can be no debate about it.

Hamas and Hizbullah have a lot in common. Neither recognizes Israel, both organizations are well entrenched in areas Israel evacuated unilaterally, both are led by charismatic leaders with the ability to stir up a crowd, and both heap scorn openly on both Israel's military prowess and Israelis ability to stand up under pressure. And both have kidnapped soldiers from sovereign Israeli territory and are holding them in territory they control.

If these leaders come out of this war with the upper hand, if they can rightly wave the flag of victory, Israel will be finished.

'Yes' and 'no'

We all believe Prime Minister Olmert, therefore, when he says "no": We won't come to terms with the kidnapping of soldiers, we will not accept daily Qassam and Katushya rocket attacks, we will not give in to bribery. When Olmert says "no," he means it.

But what is Olmert's "yes?" By itself, "no" is not a policy and not a path. After the "no" must come a "yes." There must be a perspective for the future. "No" only defines the limits, not what happens in those borders or outside them. We are very, very unclear with regard to "yes."

What do we want?

Is the goal to develop an ongoing war of attrition to bring down the Palestinian Authority and Lebanese government? This is possible, but not necessarily desirable.

Is the goal to bring down both terror organizations in order to cause them to plead for a ceasefire from a position of weakness? This would be desirable, but is not necessarily possible. Fierce attacks on terror groups don't always weaken them. Sometime it even strengthens them.

Is our goal to re-capture the Gaza Strip and the south Lebanon security zone? To return to the Nabatiya and Deheshiya refugee camps? Does anyone really miss them?

Complicated strategy

On a strategic level, things are even more complicated: Should we exert pressure on the Shiite population in Lebanon to pressure Beirut to pressure Damascus to pressure to pressure Hizbullah to pressure Hamas? Israel tried to set off similar chain reactions during the 1990s, with no success.

Against its will, the Olmert government finds itself fighting a two-fronted terror war, at a time when the government's popularity is crumbling and the public has little faith in it. Verbal swords will not improve its credibility, just like they will not improve Israel's ability to deter enemy attacks.

The more the gap widens between "we'll show you, this time we'll really teach you a lesson" and Israel's actions on the ground, the more Israel's soft underbelly will be exposed.

The choice is either to close the gap between declaration and action, or to stop bragging and boasting. We must speak quietly, say little, and tell the truth: Israel has a right to know exactly where this government is leading the country, before battle and death give the government very limited credibility. (07.13.06, 08:20)

[American Patriot]

Putin has impression Israel pursuing wider goals than return of abducted soldiers
ynetnews.com ^ | 7/15/2006 | AP

President Vladimir Putin said Saturday that he thinks Israel is pursuing wider goals in its military campaign than the return of abducted soldiers.

"However complicated the questions are, maximum efforts must be applied to resolve the situation in a peaceful way and I think all efforts have not been exhausted," Putin said. "However, it is our impression that aside from seeking to return the abducted soldiers, Israel is pursuing wider goals."

[American Patriot]

Palestinians: IDF forces enter northern Gaza Strip
ynetnews.com ^ | 07.15.06, 23:57 | News Agencies



Palestinian sources reported that IDF armored forces entered the northern Gaza strip.

Chief of Staff Dan Halutz made it clear during the weekend that operations in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon will continue as planned, simultaneously.

[American Patriot]

Iraq PM denounces Israel over Lebanon, Gaza
Reuters ^ | July 15, 2006



Iraq's U.S.-backed government denounced Israel's "criminal" raids on Lebanon and Gaza and the prime minister warned of the risk of an escalation of violence.

In a rare public foray into affairs beyond its borders, the premier's office said in a statement: "Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki denounces the Israeli raids on Lebanon and warns of the consequences of escalation in the region.

"The prime minister calls on Arab foreign ministers to meet to take a clear stand that condemns the criminal acts in Lebanon and Gaza and affirms this assault will make Lebanon's people more united and cohesive in the face of the Israeli challenge."

Arab foreign ministers held an emergency meeting in Cairo on Saturday to discuss ways to end Israeli attacks.

The Iraqi government, installed two months ago in a U.S.-sponsored electoral process, has focused its foreign policy on mending frosty relations with its Arab neighbours, partly to improve security by hindering foreign aid to guerrilla groups, and partly to foster investment and trade.

Some of Maliki's fellow Shi'ite Islamists in the coalition government, notably followers of radical young cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, have voiced support for Hizbollah, the militant Shi'ite group that is the main target of Israeli attacks in Lebanon.

The democratic rise of Islamist leaders from the Shi'ite majority oppressed under Saddam Hussein, has created delicate diplomatic problems for the United States, particularly in view of those leaders' links to Shi'ite Iran, Washington's most powerful enemy in the region and a supporter of Hizbollah.

As elsewhere in the Middle East, criticism of Israel, the United States' closest ally, is also widespread in Iraq.

The speaker of parliament, a Sunni, accused "Jewish Israeli Zionists" this week of fomenting sectarian unrest in Iraq to thwart efforts by Sunnis and Shi'ites to build an Islamic state.

Washington has taken a dim view of Mahmoud al-Mashhadani's comments. A person speaking in Baghdad on Saturday on condition of being quoted only as a Western diplomat, told reporters: "It is a shame that the speaker of parliament would make comments like that. It doesn't show responsibility...

"These comments are not representative of the government."

[American Patriot]

IDF official: Hizbullah hid rockets in houses
ynetnews.com ^ | 7/15/2006 | Hanan Greenberg

Officer says Israeli planes struck houses in Southern Lebanon villages used by Hizbullah for concealing long-range rockets. ‘We have no intention of hitting civilians, but those who live by the sword are bound to get hurt,’ he states

A senior IDF official revealed Saturday that Hizbullah has been hiding a large quantity of long-range rockets in specially-designed rooms built in houses in Southern Lebanon villages, operating under the assumption that the Israeli army will have difficulty in locating them and that it would prefer not to harm villages.

Two-front war – special Ynetnews coverage

According to the official, the rockets that have been concealed are capable of reaching a range of 40-70 kilometers (roughly 25-43 miles). “We took the gloves off in this confrontation, we targeted these places and will hit every convoy transporting arms, even if there are Iranian elements within it,” he stated.

However, as the IDF intelligence unit believes that there are those in Lebanon capable of bringing about a significant turnabout in the country by curbing Hizbullah, it was decided that the pressure exerted on the Lebanese government will be limited, so as not to jeopardize this possibility.

Surprises for Nasrallah

Three days after the onset of the large-scale operation in Lebanon, army sources estimate that Hizbullah’s head Hassan Nasrallah had expected a much more restrained Israeli response to the kidnapping of two soldiers on its border. “He didn’t expect us to reach all those villages and substantially damage the long-range rocket infrastructure,” the senior officer said.

According to the officer, civilians who were storing the rockets in their houses have been hit in some of the strikes. “We have no intention of hurting civilians, but those who live by the sword are bound to get hurt,” he stressed. The strike on Beirut, he stated, was also a surprise for Nasrallah. “It’s true that he has surprises for us as well. Some we know of, some we don’t,” he said.

According to an assessment formulated by the IDF intelligence unit, there are positive forces in Lebanon capable of bringing about a much desired transformation in the country by pushing Hizbullah aside and undermining its strength. The recent operation will therefore refrain from pressuring the Lebanese government in order not to weaken these forces.

Significant change needed

In the last three months no official element in Lebanon has confronted Hizbullah and the regime has regularly complied with the organization’s demands. However, the IDF believes that some in the neighboring state are strong enough to stand up to Hizbullah, and that they must be encouraged to act.

“We have no problem with having a Lebanese APC patrolling the border once this happens,” a senior officer said.

However, an army official stressed that the IDF will not be content with having the current round of fighting on the northern border end with vague achievements. Pushing Hizbullah away from Southern Lebanon and the deployment of a Lebanese division in the area will not satisfy Israel, which aims for a significant transformation in the region.

“We are seeking for law enforcement and order. Such deployment without arranged understandings is out of the question,” the officer said.

[Sean Osborne]

Debka and others may be making a slight goof.

The C-802 SACCADE is a long-range missile.

I assess the missile used in the attack on the Israeli corvette to actually be the C-801 SARDINE which was designed by Red China (based on a reverse engineered French-made Exocet) specifically to attack destroyers or smaller escort ships like frigates and corvettes.

This missile was probably fired from the back of an Iranian IRGC of Hezbollah truck along the shore front.

There is an entire division (circa 15,000) of IRGC troops in Lebanon.

The Iranian-produced version of this missile is known as the "KARUS".



More details here:

http://www.globalsecurity.org/milita...hina/c-801.htm


Israel has no other viable military option than to invade all of southern Lebanon and to annihilate Hezbollah in the Bekaa valley. Iran and Syria will not sit by and allow this to happen.

Full-scale warfare between these nations is high risk - high probability within 72-96 hours.

[falcon]

Islamic World, he will not say Iran, so he still must hold back for some reason, could it be the Mullahs or his buddy Putin?

saying such a move would be seen as an attack against the whole Islamic world.

Jul. 14, 2006 19:31 | Updated Jul. 15, 2006 21:49
Iran says it's out of Israel's reach
By ASSOCIATED PRESS
TEHERAN, Iran

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Friday that Israel could not harm Iran, even as it expanded its offensive into Lebanon to target the Iranian-backed Hizbullah, the official Islamic Republic News Agency reported.
"Despite the barbaric and criminal nature of the occupiers of Jerusalem, the regime and its Western supporters do not even have the power to give Iran a nasty look," the agency quoted Ahmadinejad as saying in Osku, in northwestern Iran.
His declaration came just hours after he warned Israel against extending its Lebanon assault into neighboring Syria, saying such a move would be seen as an attack against the whole Islamic world. Ahmadinejad made those comments in a telephone conversation with Syrian President Bashar Assad, to assure him of his support, IRNA reported.
Syria and Shi'ite Muslim Iran are allies, and together are the top backers of the Shi'ite Hizbullah guerrilla group in Lebanon.
Israel has intensified its attacks on Lebanon, striking bridges, airports and the main highway leading to Syria to put pressure on the government and force Hizbullah to free the two Israeli soldiers it kidnapped in a cross-border attack on Wednesday.
Ahmadinejad also said attacks and threats against Lebanon and Syria prove that Israel's "fake regime" would not survive under peaceful conditions, and he urged Israel's allies to stop supporting its military operations.
"One day all supporters of Israel, especially the US, should be held accountable," he said.
He held Israel responsible for unjust conditions in neighboring countries, saying Israel's "impudence and shamelessness" help deny the region of advanced technology.
"Opposition to Iran's achievements toward peaceful nuclear technology is an example," Ahmadinejad said.
Iran is under international pressure to suspend its nuclear program and resume negotiations over a package of incentives offered last month by permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany. The Islamic country could face punishment by the council if it rejects the package.
The US accuses Iran of using its civilian nuclear program as a cover to build weapons. Teheran has denied the charges, saying its nuclear program is geared only toward generating electricity.



This is more B/S buying more time.



Iran and Israel have been archenemies since Iran's 1979 Islamic revolution, which toppled a pro-Western monarchy and installed an anti-Western clerical establishment in Teheran.
In April, Iran said it would give the Palestinian Authority US$50 million in aid after the terror group Hamas won power in Palestinian parliamentary elections.
Iran threatened Israel in May that it would be Iran's first retaliatory target in response to any US attack.
Last year, Ahmadinejad said the Holocaust was a myth and that Israel should be wiped out.



http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satelli...cle%2FShowFull