Israeli Commander: If Erdogan Sails to Gaza, We Will Sink Him!

Posted on by

One week after the Israeli crime against a Gaza-bound Turkish ship, which left nine people martyred, the Israeli-Turkish relations seem to become worse amid mutual threats.

While Turkey was threatening to re-consider its ties with the Zionist entity, Israel, “provoked” by the Turkish statements, “violated” its decision to calm down.

Thus, a report about the intention of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to travel to Gaza aboard a Turkish navy vessel accompanying a new attempt by protest boats to break Israel’s maritime blockade was enough to drive Israeli officials crazy.

In this context, an Israeli occupation commander said Monday Israel would view an attempt by Erdogan to sail to Gaza as an act of war.

“If he comes here with Turkish warships there can be no doubt that it would amount to a declaration of war,” Major-Genral Uzi Dayan told Army Radio. “We need to draw a clear line and say that whoever crosses it will not be boarded but sunk.”

But another top defense official, Amos Gilad, who heads the defense ministry’s policy unit, urged colleagues to tone down their denouncements of Erdogan rather than exacerbate the crisis with Turkey. “Precisely because there is a crisis, we need to act with judgment and avoid calling a democratically elected leader a terrorist,” Gilad said.

Meanwhile, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said the normalization of Turkish-Israeli relations – severely strained after the deadly raid – would depend upon Tel Aviv’s acceptance of an international inquiry into the event. “If Israel gives the green light to the formation of an international committee and is ready to answer questions of the committee, Turkish-Israeli relations will have a different course. Otherwise, Turkish-Israeli relations cannot be normalized,” Davutoglu told a press conference in Istanbul. “If Israel thinks it has protected its national interests and rights, it should declare that it accepts formation of an international committee. Otherwise, it means that they are hiding some facts,” he added, speaking on the sidelines of a summit of a 20-member Eurasian security group, where Turkey was seeking to condemn Israel.

Israel has rejected the United Nations proposal, which would see a joint investigative committee comprising Washington, Ankara and Tel Aviv. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened his cabinet late Sunday to discuss the offer, but has made it clear that Israel prefers to conduct an internal probe.

the Holy Month of Ramadan to start on August 11, Kuwaiti astronomer says

Posted on by

A Kuwaiti astronomer said the first day of Ramadan would fall on August 11 and that Muslims should get ready to fast up to 15 hours.

“The first day will be August 11 and the last day should be September 9,” Dr Salah Al Ajuri said.

“Although it is still too early to talk about Ramadan, many people want to know more about its start and finish so that that they can plan their trips and holidays abroad,” the astronomer said, quoted by Kuwait News Agency.

Muslims abstain from food, drink, smoking and sexual activities from sunrise until sunset during their most sacred month which, based on the lunar calendar, is 11 to 12 days shorter than the solar year.

“All the fasting days will be during the hot days of the summer, so Muslims should get ready for it. They will fast 15 hours on the first day and 14 hours on the last day,” Al Ajuri said.

Humidity will reach high levels during the Eid days, celebrated to mark the end of the holy month, he said.

Some scholars insist on the naked-eye sighting of the new moon to start or end the month, while others rely on astronomical calculations.

'Israel won't allow Islamic Republic of Iran ships to Gaza'

Posted on by

After Iran announced it would send ships loaded with humanitarian aid to Gaza, Israel said it would not allow any Iranian ships to enter the coastal sliver.

Iran’s Red Crescent Director Abdolraoof Adibzadeh said Monday that two Iranian aid ships carrying “food and medical supplies” for the people of Gaza will set sail for the coastal sliver in the coming week.

“Iran is also preparing to dispatch a navy hospital ship for the people of Gaza, which will have onboard doctors, nurses and all the medical equipment required for emergency surgeries and procedures,” Adibzadeh added.

Israel was quick to react to Iran’s announcement with an Israeli diplomatic official saying that no Iranian ship will be allowed to Gaza, the Jerusalem Post reported.

“If we didn’t let an Irish ship reach Gaza, we are certainly not going to let Iranian ships pass,” the official said on Monday.

The official further pointed out that “any shipment from Iran to Gaza would be a major concern,” claiming that Iran had a record of supplying Hamas and Hezbollah with weapons.

Iran’s decision to dispatch relief supplies comes after Israel’s military attacked the Freedom Flotilla in international waters in the Mediterranean Sea early on May 31.

The vessel was carrying thousands of tons of aid supplies and hundreds of humanitarian activists to the coastal strip.

The attack resulted in the death of 20 and the injury of more then 50 others.

A three-year Israeli blockade of Gaza has deprived the territories’ 1.5 million residents of food, fuel, and other necessities.

US bombs martyred 55 Shia in Yemen

Posted on by

Amnesty International says the United States used cluster bombs on a cruise missile in Yemen, killing 55 people, most of whom were civilians                                              

The attack, according to the rights group, targeted Al-Maajala in the Abyan province at a time when Washington was pushing hard to project militants in the country.

“Amnesty International is gravely concerned by evidence that cluster munitions appear to have been used in Yemen,” said Mike Lewis, the group’s arms control researcher, AFP reported.

The group cited a Yemeni parliamentary committee as reporting in February that the attack had killed 41 local residents, including 14 women and 21 children, in addition to 14 alleged militants.

Deputy Director of AI’s Middle East and North Africa Program, Philip Luther warned that “a military strike of this kind against alleged militants without an attempt to detain them is at the very least unlawful.”

“The fact that so many of the victims were actually women and children indicates that the attack was in fact grossly irresponsible, particularly given the likely use of cluster munitions,” he also said.

Lewis said, “Cluster munitions have indiscriminate effects and unexploded bomblets threaten lives and livelihoods for years afterwards.”

AI had obtained photographs which showed remains of the BGM-109D Tomahawk land-attack cruise missile. “This type of missile, launched from a warship or submarine, is designed to carry a payload of 166 cluster sub-munitions (bomblets) which each explode into over 200 sharp steel fragments that can cause injuries up to 150 meters (about 500 feet) away,” an AI statement said.

“An incendiary material inside the bomblet also spreads fragments of burning zirconium designed to set fire to nearby flammable objects,” it added.

Iranian President Demands End to Gaza siege

Posted on by

President Dr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, denouncing the Zionist entity’s act of terrorist piracy on the high seas twice within a week against relief flotillas bound for besieged Gaza that were hijacked to Israeli ports, demanded the end of the blockade right away.

In an interview with ATV Channel of Turkey last night, he prayed for the souls of those who were brutally murdered on the first flotilla last week and wished for swift recovery for the injured.

The Iranian president called for dispatching of another aid flotilla to Gaza’s besieged 1.5 million Palestinians, saying he will discuss this matter with Turkish officials and officials of other friendly countries.

Asked on the repeated threats against the Islamic Republic by the Zionist entity, he reiterated Israel does not dare even to think about attacking Iran, in view of the fact that Zionist power compared to the might of Islamic Iran is like that of a mosquito in front of a lion.

Dr. Ahmadinejad referring to the trilateral Tehran Declaration on nuclear fuel swap inked on May 17 by Iran, Turkey, and Brazil, said this is based on peace and stability as well as on righteousness and justice.

He advised the US and its few West European accomplices to respect the joint measure by Iran, Turkey and Brazil which has global support.

The Iranian president made it clear that US President Barak Obama who had harped on changes in US policies, should accept realities and review Washington’s irrational approach toward Iran before it is too late, otherwise, it would mean the end of the Obama regime.

America wants more oil?

Posted on by

Emily plunged into darkness by Zionists tear gas canister + PIC

Posted on by

Emily Henochowicz, 21, an American Jewish art student lost an eye when she was hit by a tear gas canister fired by Israeli troops at a pro-Palestinian demonstration.                                                                                                                                                                

Emily Henochowicz, 21, of Maryland, was hit in the eye on Monday when she joined a protest at a Jerusalem roadblock against Israel’s deadly raid on an aid flotilla headed for the Gaza Strip, which killed nine people.

Spokesmen at Jerusalem’s Hadassah hospital, where she underwent an operation, confirmed Tuesday that she lost an eye in the disturbance.

Henochowicz, a student at Cooper Union in New York who is currently studying at Jerusalem’s Bezalel Academy, had participated in other nonviolent protests against Israel’s presence in the West Bank.