|
|
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Some headlines and summaries from JTA
|
Iran wants Italy as go-between on soldiers
Iran wants Italy to help negotiate the release of two Israeli soldiers kidnapped in Lebanon.
Italy has been told the soldiers are alive but not in “great condition,” said Sergio De Gregorio, head of the Italian Senate’s Defense Committee. Ali Larijani, Iran’s national security chief, told De Gregorio that he would ask Hezbollah to conduct negotiations through Italy.
The reservists, Eldad Regev, 26, and Ehud Goldwasser, 31, were kidnapped July 12 in a cross-border raid that sparked a war between Israel and Hezbollah.
Israeli arrested for spying for Hezbollah
An Israeli Arab living in the North was arrested on suspicion of spying for Hezbollah, Ha’aretz reported.
Mahmoud Khatib, 41, of Rajar, a village that straddles the Israel-Lebanon border, was arrested by the Shin Bet security service, the military revealed Wednesday.
Under interrogation, Khatib confessed to maintaining contact with a Hezbollah member for eight months, terminating communication last month, Ha’aretz reported.
Security officials suspect Khatib gave Hezbollah information on army activities in the area, including security procedures and checkpoint inspections at the entrance to Rajar. Afterward he retracted the confession, which his lawyer said was extracted under pressure.
Canadians pray for Israel
Millions of Canadians participated in a national day of prayer for Israel and peace in Jerusalem.
Charles McVety, president of the evangelical Canada Christian College, was one of the main organizers of Sunday’s event.
A full-page ad promoting the “Emergency Day of Prayer” went into national newspapers, urging the public to pray and donate to the “Israel You’re Not Alone” campaign.
U.S. aids weapons-clearing effort
The U.S. State Department plans to provide an emergency grant of $420,000 to help clear explosives remaining from the war in southern Lebanon.
The State Department announced Wednesday that, subject to congressional approval, its Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement will give the grant to the Mines Advisory Group, a non-governmental organization that specializes in clearing explosive remnants of war.
The group is trained to clear unexploded aerial bombs, cluster munitions, rocket-propelled grenades, artillery shells, persistent land mines, abandoned ordnance and any other potential dangers in southern Lebanon.
The Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement also will reallocate up to $2 million more to continue clearing remnants in Lebanon in fiscal year 2007, also pending congressional approval.
Committee: U.S. lacks Iran intelligence
The United States is ill-prepared to assess Iran’s nuclear weapons capability and intentions for developing weapons of mass destruction, a congressional report said.
Wednesday’s report from the U.S. House of Representatives’ Intelligence Committee mentions “significant gaps in our knowledge and understanding of the various areas of concern about Iran” and questions whether the United States can effectively engage in talks with Tehran to diffuse tensions.
The report also cautions that “policymakers will need high-quality intelligence to assess Iranian intentions to prepare for any new round of negotiations.”
Iran said Tuesday it wanted to negotiate over a Western incentives package offered in June, but did not agree to halt uranium enrichment.
Bloomberg protested in Ireland
Protesters in Ireland demonstrated against visiting New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg for supporting Israel’s war against Hezbollah.
Local anti-war and pro-Palestinian protesters picketed Tuesday’s ceremony, where a memorial was unveiled honoring Michael Corcoran, who led New York’s “Fighting 69th,” an Irish regiment in the U.S. Civil War.
U.S. Jews protest Israeli actions
Jewish protesters in the United States held small “die-ins” against Israel’s actions in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip.
In San Francisco, 14 people were arrested at Tuesday’s protest when they blocked the doors of the federation offices.
In New York, protesters lay down on the ground to protest Israel’s military actions and call for more U.S. aid to help rebuild Lebanese society. Similar protests were held in Los Angeles and Philadelphia.
British group works for Israel’s image
A group aiming to improve Israel’s image in the British media is set to launch in September.
The Jewish Media Network is the creation of four British Jewish advertising executives who founded the group StandUp4Israel, which campaigns to “promote Israel’s cause in the British media.”
The network will launch with a dinner and speech by Marc Cave, co-founder of StandUp4Israel and the brains behind several of Britain’s most prominent advertising campaigns.
http://www.jta.org/
posted by Somebody @ 7:20 PM Permanent Link
 
0 Comments:
<< Home
|
| |
