Iranian Navy Deploying to Israel’s Doorstep
January 17, 2013 13:51 by Pesach Benson
Everything you need to know about today’s coverage of Israel and the Mideast. Join the Israel Daily News Stream on Facebook.
Today’s Top Stories
1. AP: Mohammed Morsi’s trying to smooth out Washington’s ruffled feathers over his video calling Zionists “pigs and bloodsuckers.” The Egyptian president told a delegation of visiting US senators his remarks “were a denunciation of Israeli policies.” I’m not sure that line will address the concerns raised by a Globe & Mail staff-ed:
It will now be impossible for Israelis to believe he is sincere when he says is a partner in the peace process, and the Obama Administration will have a difficult time selling him as a trustworthy ally.
In the name of the stability and moderation Mr. Morsi has claimed to represent in Egypt, he needs to renounce his ugly statements and reinforce his commitment to peace.
Israeli missile ships during 2012 training exercise.
2. Iran says it is deploying a fleet of ships to patrol the Red Sea and Mediterranean. Credit the mullahs for dropping the pretense of fighting piracy. The Times of Israel writes:
The move will put Iranian firepower at Israel’s doorstep, and likely raise tensions in the already skittish region.
Navy Commander Habibollah Sayyari said Iran’s 24th fleet would be sent to points around the region to act as a show of force and “counter threats” to Iran . . .
Oh yeah, it also helps secure Iran’s weapons smuggling pipeline to Gaza via Africa.
3. Danny Ayalon to Hurriyet: Israel looks ready to apologize to Turkey for the Mavi Marmara incident.
When asked about the preconditions of reconciliation with Turkey, Ayalon said: “For instance, I can think of creating a way of solving this by adapting the American-Pakistani formula. Remember, recently there were 24 Pakistani soldiers killed by mistake by American forces, and the Americans sent a letter that was accepted in Pakistan. And I believe this could be a good platform to clear away the issue.” When asked whether this was an apology, he said: “Yes.”
Israel and the Palestinians
• Times of Israel: Hamas insists it won’t disarm for a national unity deal. Even if Hamas woke up one morning and found Israel gone from the face of the earth, its armed “wing” would find another raison d’etre and turn its guns on the Fatah.
• While there was plenty of coverage of Samir Awad’s death during a West Bank clash, The Independent took things a step further.
The article gives no indication that reporter Alistair Dawber sought the IDF’s response to claims that soldiers taunted the kids. As Palestinian violence and provocations continue to rise, these kinds of incidents are bound to increase. Indeed, the Western press doesn’t bother picking up on the drip drip escalation. In case you didn’t know, Palestinians rioted near Rachel’s Tomb.
• The BBC sides with an anti-Israel extremist’s version of history. See the Jewish Chronicle for details on pro-Palestinian activist Ben White’s complaint, which was upheld by the BBC Trust (pdf format, page 16).
• Professor Richard Landes is blogging his observations from the Paris courtroom, where French activist Philippe Karsenty and France 2 square off over the Mohammed Dura video’s veracity.
Tony Blair
• Writing in the Daily Telegraph, Peter Oborne calls on Tony Blair to “fall on his sword” and step down as the Quartet’s envoy to the Mideast, having contributed nothing of significance to peace efforts:
Mr Blair and the Quartet have sought to achieve incremental improvements rather than challenge the fundamental injustice of the Israeli occupation of the West Bank. I am sure that Mr Blair calculates that powerful criticism would hinder or prevent access to the Israeli leadership and make his day-to-day duties hopeless, and he may well be correct to think that Mr Netanyahu would not give him the time of day if he spoke out of turn.
But this diplomatic reticence does lay him open to the charge that he has been part of an international framework which has, perhaps without fully intending it, collaborated with the illegal Israeli colonisation of the West Bank.
• I’m glad The Scotsman is using the word terror, but why is it only applied to Jews?
‘Jewish Terrorist‘ admits two murders
• BBC looks at Bedouin/Israeli friction in the Negev.
(Image of ships via Flickr/Israel Defense Forces; Blair via Flickr/Chatham House)
For more, see yesterday’s Israel Daily News Stream.
Bernard Geron
4:30 pm
Jan 17, 2013
Iran ambition is to build nuclear submarines fueled by 20%enriched uranium which will give them unlimited range. By contrast Israel’s fleet of Air Independent Propulsion still lacks comparable range. Iran’s subs could reach the Med by way of Africa, whereas Israel’s subs will be denied acces through the Suez Canal by Morsi’s Egypt to the Red Sea. This a-symmetry is not for now, but Israel should keep a watchful eye on future developments. (20% enr. U is the fuel of choice for compact marine reactors, in case you were wondering.)
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LUIS FROM MEXICO
5:38 pm
Jan 17, 2013
I find it very “interesting” that one boy killed in the west bank (as sad as it can be) gets the headlines of international media at the same level as hundreds of arabs killed by arabs (Syria, Irak, Egypt, etc.)……..or I should say MORE attention just because this boy was killed by an israeli soldier. Fair and balanced media?……Fat chance!!!
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Dany
7:39 pm
Jan 17, 2013
As it seems Israel cannot make the slightest mistake, not that this was or wasn’t a mistake, so fellow citizens don’t even think of making a mistake come Election Day! It’s BIBI or hell, Obama, the EU and the UN are on their heels and only BIBI has their addresses.
KOULANOU MAHAL
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M. Kerjman
7:44 pm
Jan 17, 2013
This is not a zero outcome from “working commission” surprising, but nativity of those still believing in this sort of the UN activity being, oneS could say,mere playgrounds for self-important international bureaucrats paid as long as “efforts” continue.
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Michael Kerjman
5:40 am
Jan 18, 2013
What is going on during transmitting the posts these days?
It is all about NAIVETY, not nativity.
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Dany
7:54 pm
Jan 17, 2013
Journalism of the past and this century cannot survive economically if it were not for Israel, this is one more contribution that our tiny country makes to the world at large! Bravo Israel.
As for the quartet represented by Tony Blair, it’s all PARVE, it’s their way to be in the news, something good will not come out of their involvement.
Morsi is an Islamist, I don’t expect anything from him or from Egypt, neither should you!!
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R. Cross
8:46 pm
Jan 17, 2013
At the rate of bovine mentality inherent in many gov. circles, it is doubtful if Israeli subs will receive a warm reception going around the Cape and so it is suggested that the subs in question be dismantled in Haifa, transported overland to Eliat and re-assembled. It will still work out cheaper and also avoid the embarrassment of dealing with the SA Government. THEN Israel can adopt a decent, strong stance against that unstable Islamic Regime such as that which exists as a pitiful legacy of the peacock throne. God bless His chosen people and the land He gave them – ISRAEL!
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Salim Varese
5:54 pm
Jan 21, 2013
Israeli ships and submarines can cross the cape in international water. I hope they do.
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Rosie
11:31 pm
Jan 17, 2013
Mr. Morsi ought to be questioned much further regarding yet another ranting, hate-filled speech. His fanciful ‘explanation’ is far short of acceptable. Anyway, we know he’s only doing it for the money.
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emes
11:57 pm
Jan 17, 2013
Good for Peter Osborne, sense and sensibility! – Tony Blair has done zilch to settle anything in this Middle East situation – except vacuum up the bucks from a deep pile of crap! Blair and his (titled) missus travels the world telling every government how to run their country when he left his own in bits, handing over the reigns to a, well nice guy, but who sold Britain’s gold reserves, executed incompetence and who was just morphed into an extension of Blair himself. Israel should in no way entertain Tony Blair, who’s only justification to the Islamic sector is when his wife wears the shmuttas of a non-person. Enough of his empty words already – and the world says Jews are grasping!
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Nomlas Fisher
7:56 am
Jan 18, 2013
Kerjman, it’s “nievete”,…………….I think! N..Fisher,Vancouver
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Iranian Navy Deploying to Israel’s Doorstep | The Conservative Papers
9:15 am
Jan 20, 2013
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LUIS FROM MEXICO
9:47 pm
Jan 21, 2013
I was under the impression that Goldstone himself later said he was sorry for the many mistakes on his report and he was mislead by the palestinians when preparing the report…….Did I imagine this?????
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