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Monday, Jun. 25 ’12, Tammuz 5, 5772
HEADLINES:
1. ONE KILLED IN WILD HAMAS CELEBRATIONS FOR MORSI 2. US-ISRAEL WAR GAMES
AGAINST IRAN PLANNED NEAR ELECTIONS 3. MORSI TELLS IRAN PEACE TREATY WITH
ISRAEL TO BE ‘RECONSIDERED’
4. PUTIN TO ATTEND UNVEILING OF RED ARMY MONUMENT IN ISRAEL 5. HAMAS ‘SHOOTS
ITSELF IN FOOT’ AS IDF HALTS FREIGHT SHIPMENTS 6. PUTIN IN ISRAEL TO BOOST
POWER IN MIDEAST 7. CAIRO GOV’T CONCEIVED IN VIOLENCE, BRED IN CHAOS 8.
EGYPTIAN BEATS PREGNANT WIFE TO DEATH FOR NOT VOTING FOR MURSI
1. ONE KILLED IN WILD HAMAS CELEBRATIONS FOR MORSI
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
One Gaza Arab was killed and three others were wounded Sunday as Hamas
wildly cheered Egypt”s Muslim Brotherhood victory, giving it new hope to
achieve its dream of annihilating Israel.
Hamas gleefully welcomed the election of Mohammed Morsi with the usual
gunfire, which this time was deadly, and senior Hamas official Mahmud Zahar
said that his victory was “a historic moment and a new era in the history of
Egypt. De facto Gaza Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh said he is looking to
Egypt to help “the Palestinian nation get freedom.”
Morsi quickly backed up Hama”s optimism with a statement made before the
election results were announced and published Monday in an interview with
the Iranian government-controlled Fars News Agency, in which he said he
would review the 1979 peace treaty with Israel.
The Muslim Brotherhood helped found Hamas in 1987 and grew not a powerful
political influence by maintaining social support for Gazans. The terrorist
organization, declared as such by the United States, peaked in popularity by
winning the first and only Palestinian Authority legislative elections six
years ago.
Its isolation by the rival Fatah faction, based in Ramallah and headed by
Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, has weakened it, but Haniyeh
sees the Muslim Brotherhood victory in Egypt as a good sign.
However, it might be disappointed. Morsi is taking office with most of his
powers having been stripped several days beforehand by the ruling military
regime. It also has dissolved the lower house of the parliament, dominated
by Islamic parties.
Hamas” strongest tool is the lack of control of Egypt in the Sinai
Peninsula, south of Gaza and a breeding ground for terrorists trying to
infiltrate into Israel.
If Morsi decides to beef up Egyptian security forces in the Sinai, he
probably will demand changes in the 1979 peace treaty with Israel, which
limits the presence of Egyptian military and arms in the region.
Either way, Hamas holds out the hopes that it can maintain an alliance with
whatever military forces are in the Sinai, making it easier to attack
Israel.
2. US-ISRAEL WAR GAMES AGAINST IRAN PLANNED NEAR ELECTIONS
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
The United States and Israel are planning war games involving simulated
attacks against Iran and Syria. Coincidence or not, the exercises will take
place less than a month before elections November 6.
Thousands of soldiers will participate in the war games under simultaneous
and simulated missile fire from Syria and Iran, the Hebrew language Maariv
newspaper reported. It said that the exercise will be named “dress
rehearsal,” a thinly veiled message to Iran of the possibility of a military
attack on its unsupervised nuclear program if Tehran does not cooperate with
United Nations inspectors.
President Barack Obama is seen as wanting to postpone any military action
until after the elections, in which he will be running for re-election
against Republican Mitt Romney.
Iran has suffered numerous cyber attacks in the past year, presumably
originating from Israel and the United States, in an effort to cripple
computer programs operating nuclear facilities, particularly those where
Iran is enriching uranium, a key element for a nuclear weapon.
On the military front, Israel has beefed up its submarine force, which is
reportedly equipped with nuclear weapons.
Recent U.S. defense contracts to arm its navy with more Tomahawk cruise
missiles may possibly be intended to deplete reserves that were used for
bombing missions against Muammar Qaddafi but also may be designated for a
future attack, Business Insider noted.
“Taking out radar and aircraft defenses would be one step in an Iranian
attack. Another, equally as vital, would be determining where Tehran’s fleet
of submarines may be parked in the Persian Gulf,” it said.
The U.S. Navy also has ordered 17,000 sonar buoys that are used to work with
other buoys to locate underwater objects but also might be intended for
research for an unknown mission.
3. MORSI TELLS IRAN PEACE TREATY WITH ISRAEL TO BE ‘RECONSIDERED’
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
Egypt”s Muslim Brotherhood president-elect Mohammed Morsi told Iran he will
“reconsider the Camp David Accord” with Israel and that he wants closer ties
with Tehran to create a “balance” in the Middle East. He made the comments
in an interview with the government-controlled Fars News Agency before he
was announced as ther winner of the presidential elections.
Afetr he was declared the victor Sunday afternon, Morsi vowed he will
“preserve international agreements,” without mentioning Israel by name.
Morsi told Fars a mouthpiece for the regime, that closer relations with Iran
“will create a balance of pressure in the region, and this is part of my
program.”
Iran”s government-controlled media promoted the Muslim Brotherhood candidate
during the election campaign, and the Iranian foreign ministry quickly
congratulated the “Egyptian people and government on election of Mohammed
Morsi as the country’s new president,” Fars reported Monday morning.
Tens of thousands of Egyptians gathered in Cairo and across the country to
celebrate the victory of Morsi, chanting slogans in praise of Allah.
The Muslim Brotherhood”s signal for closer ties with Iran comes as no
surprise, but Morsi”s statement underlines the threat of Israel’s being
under the potential stranglehold of an Iranian-Hizbullah-Hamas-Egyptian
axis.
4. PUTIN TO ATTEND UNVEILING OF RED ARMY MONUMENT IN ISRAEL
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to attend the unveiling of a
Red Army World War II Victory Monument in Netanya Monday.
The “Victory Monument”, an unprecedented joint-state venture between Israel
and Russia, also honors the more than half a million Jews who fought with
the Red Army during WWII.
The design of the monument was the first-ever joint initiative between
Israel and Russia to commemorate the Red Army. Keren HaYesod – UIA and the
World Forum of Russian Jewry led efforts to raise funds for the project.
A world-class design commemorating the Red Army”s victory over Nazi Germany
in WWII, the monument honors millions of Red Army soldiers who perished in
the war, among them 120,000 Jews. More than half a million Jewish soldiers
fought with the Red Army in WWII against the Nazis.
Alexander Levin, president of the World Forum of Russian Jewry and an
American citizen, will represent Russian-speaking Jews from North America at
the ceremony.
“Millions of Russian Jews around the world are united at this moment in
solidarity for the brave Red Army soldiers,” said Levin, one of the main
supporters of the monument. “I am proud to be part of those who support the
building of this special monument, particularly as the sole representative
of the United States and the millions of Russian-speaking Jews who reside
there.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu proposed the idea of the monument to
President Putin two years ago during his visit to Moscow. Putin complied and
promised to come to Israel for the inauguration ceremony.
5. HAMAS ‘SHOOTS ITSELF IN FOOT’ AS IDF HALTS FREIGHT SHIPMENTS
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
Hours after President Shimon Peres warned Hamas it is shooting itself in the
foot by attacking Israel, the IDF ordered a halt in freight through the
Kerem Shalom crossing.
Southern District Commander Tal Russo ordered the halt following massive
missile and mortar shell fire on Israeli communities in the south, with more
than 150 missiles smacking into rural and urban areas in the past week.
He said re-opening the crossing, where fuel and other goods and merchandise
are shipped from Israel, will be conditioned on better security and a
cessation of rocket fire.
Gaza-based terrorists fired three Kassam rockets on the Western Negev Sunday
afternoon, and no further violence was reported as of Monday morning,
indicating that Hamas has completed the latest round of attacks.
President Peres told a Jewish Agency conference in Jerusalem on Sunday,
“[Hamas] must understand that when they attack Israel, they are attacking
residents of Gaza. Every missile that hits Israel will hurt you more than
anyone.”
Southern Israel has been under constant rocket fire since Israel expelled
all Jews from the Gaza region in 2005 and ordered the total withdrawal of
all soldiers, based on the theory that Hamas would cease deadly terrorist
attacks. Instead, it widened its target area and attacked as far east as
Be”er Sheva and as far north as Yavne, on the southern edge of metropolitan
Tel Aviv.
Ashkelon city councilman Shimon Cohen wrote Prime Minister Binyamin
Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak Sunday night, “In the name of the
residents of Ashkelon and the south, I urge you to bomb the terrorist
tunnels that are filled with weapons, to immediately stop the shipments of
cement to Gaza, and to cut off electricity and water in the neighborhoods
where missiles are launched.
“This situation is totally impossible, whereby a sovereign country allows a
dangerous situation to exist that threatens the lives of its citizens
without a reasonable reaction over a period of several years.”
Hamas has pummeled southern Israelwith more than 13,000 rockets and mortar
shells since the outbreak of the Second Intifada, also known as the Oslo
War, which began in 2000. Israel and Hamas have been engaged in continuing
battles, interspersed by periods of relative calm.
6. PUTIN IN ISRAEL TO BOOST POWER IN MIDEAST
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
Russian president Vladimir Putin lands at Ben Gurion Airport Monday for a
visit to Israel, the Palestinian Authority and Jordan in an effort to
improve his image, blackened by support for Syria and Iran.
Russia has been engaged in a modern version of the diplomatic Cold War
standoff between Washington and Moscow 60 years ago and has been an obstacle
to moves by Western allies that would allow them to be the major influence
on Iran”s nuclear development and Syrian President Bashar Assad”s violent
struggle to keep himself and his regime alive at the expense of the lives of
thousands of civilians who have been bombed to death and gunned down in the
streets.
Russia has a huge vested interest in Iran and Syria through technological
investments and military sales, similar to its stake in Libya, where the
overthrow of Muammar Qaddafi cost it billions of dollars in military deals.
The Arab world increasingly fears Iran”s nuclear ambitions and its stated
desire to rule an Islamic Middle East empire, and also has openly opposed
Assad”s continuing refusal to surrender.
Moscow”s support of Assad has unmasked it as an opponent to democracy, and
Putin”s visit – along with more than 300 aides and advisors – is aimed at
raising his political profile.
Putin in 2005 was the first Russian president to visit Israel, and this time
around he will make a high-profile trip to Bethlehem and to Jordan.
“The message (the Russians) will receive is that Israel can’t tolerate a
nuclear Iran,” said Yaakov Livne, head of the Russia desk at the Israeli
foreign ministry, according to the Yisrael HaYom newspaper.
“Of course we prefer a diplomatic solution, but we will use any means to
protect Israel’s survival… We expect Russia, as a member of the Security
Council, to demonstrate responsibility and help to prevent the Iranian
nuclear race. I think that will be the most important issue on the agenda
during the visit.”
Putin”s presence in Israel could serve as a warning to Iran that Moscow
could cross the line and become closer to Israel if Iran does not cooperate
with the United Nations and open up its nuclear sites for full inspection.
7. CAIRO GOV’T CONCEIVED IN VIOLENCE, BRED IN CHAOS
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
Egypt”s new Muslim Brotherhood President Mohammed Morsi vowed to “respect
all international agreements,” presumably meaning the pact with Israel, as
he takes power in a regime conceived in the violence of last year’s Arab
Spring rebellion and bred in the aftermath of political chaos.
With the United States hoping for the best and Israel expecting the worst,
Morsi did not mention the name of the Jewish state in his victory speech
Sunday night, in which he promised to preserve international accords. He
said he carries “a message of peace” to the world.
The stated doctrine of the Muslim Brotherhood to establishing a Middle East
Muslim empire, along with Morsi”s statements the past year calling for
changes in the 1979 peace treaty with Israel, are not easily forgotten by
Jerusalem officials.
Few international leaders expect Morsi to try to cancel the treaty but he is
almost certain to try to institute changes, such as moving more military
power into the Sinai Peninsula, where Bedouin tribal leaders have teamed up
with Hamas and other terrorists to carve out fiefdoms.
However, one factor working in Israel”s favor is the need for Morsi to deal
with Egypt”s economic problems, which have been aggravated since the
beginning of last year”s Arab Spring rebellion in Tahrir Square. The
protests led to the ouster of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, who now is
in a coma after having been sentenced to life in prison for involvement in
killing more than 800 opposition demonstrators.
Another urgent problem that will overshadow the peace treaty with Israel is
the temporary military regime”s last-minute power grab, taking away most of
the president”s powers.
The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, which took power after Mubarak”s
ouster 15 months ago, said it will be the sole power to appoint government
leaders, including ministers.
The military council also recently dissolved the lower house of parliament,
where the Muslim Brotherhood and the Salafist Islamic parties won a majority
last year.
8. EGYPTIAN BEATS PREGNANT WIFE TO DEATH FOR NOT VOTING FOR MURSI
by Rachel Hirshfeld
An Egyptian plumber in Alexandria beat his pregnant wife to death upon
learning that she had not voted for Muslim Brotherhood presidential
candidate Mohammed Mursi, the Egyptian daily al-Wafd reported on Sunday.
According to police reports, the initial argument between the unnamed couple
escalated into a violent death, despite the pleas of the battered and
bruised wife. She was reported to have died at the hospital from injuries
sustained.
Domestic fights have dominated Egyptian news headlines when the bid fell on
the two most feared and most controversial candidates, Mursi and former
prime minister Ahmed Shafiq, Al-Arabiya news reported.
Mohammed Morsi was declared the winner in Egypt’s first free presidential
election in history by the country’s elections commission on Sunday.
In his first televised speech on state TV, Morsi pledged Sunday to preserve
Egypt’s international accords, alluding reference to the peace deal with
Israel.
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu issued an official reaction to Mursi”s
victory saying, “Israel appreciates the democratic process in Egypt and
respects its results,” said Netanyahu.
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