http://cp.whtt.org/index.php?id=PhariseeWatch&cat=2#1127

Municipalities line up for Homeland Security apple bobing
Arizona Republic Jan 07, 2007

States are engaging in "intense lobbying" for the burgeoning federal grants for "peace keeping" which demonstrate that Homeland Security is no more or less than a substitute spending scheme to replace unpopular, new wars abroad. Federal spending is and end in itself, as the states and local governments are allowed to compete for the privilege of dispersing the diluted dollars printed at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

Tip of an Ugly Iceberg: Mass Execution of Iraqi Civillians
Washington Post Jan 07, 2007

Safah Yunis Salem, 13, who said she played dead to avoid being shot, was the only person to survive the Marine attack on the second house. Her sister Aisha, 3, was shot in the leg and died; her brother Zainab, 5, was killed by a shot to the head. She said she lost five other members of her family in the room, including her mother. "He fired and killed everybody," Safah said. "The American fired and killed everybody."

PROPHET FOR PROFIT: Seeding panic and fostering hatred in God's name
Pat Robertson Jan 04, 2007

VIRGINIA BEACH - Religious broadcaster Pat Robertson cited communications with God in predicting Tuesday that horrific terrorism aimed at the United States will result in "mass killing" during the second half of 2007. "The Lord didn't say nuclear, but I do believe it'll be something like that - that'll be a mass killing, possibly millions of people, major cities injured," Robertson said. "There will be some very serious terrorist attacks," he said. "The evil people will come after this country, and there's a possibility - not a possibility, a definite certainty - that chaos is going to rule." Robertson did not say where the attacks would occur.

Israelis kill four Palestinians, 20 wounded in a vegetable Market
Associated Press Jan 04, 2007

Who do you find in a vegetable market… mothers shopping, children playing, storekeepers selling, and Israelis shooting? "Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said in a harshly worded statement that Israel's peace promises rang hollow in light of the raid and demanded $5 million in compensation for the damage to shops and cars in Ramallah." Editor: How about the value of the lives lost…we wonder if Mr. Abbas really can represents the Palestinians?

USA pretends it is not responsible for lynching
Associated Press Jan 03, 2007

The USA Administration is responsible for the lynching of Saddam Hussein because it hand picked the present puppet government of Iraq from the former President’s declared enemies, and handed the prisoner over to them knowing full well what could be expected. Note that the appeal court allowed 30 days for the execution but the USA released Saddam Hussein to the "government in only four days. The result of this act is to maximize hatred between factions and fan the civil war to even more terrible depths; this is not an accident, it is US policy.

FBI agents witnessed abuse in Guantanamo
Reuters Jan 03, 2007

The 244 pages of documents were released on the FBI's Web site on Tuesday and were turned over to the American Civil Liberties Union as part of its lawsuit.

UN Secretary sees Israeli-Palestinian conflict as key
JTA Jan 03, 2007

"(If) conflicts between Israel and Palestine go well, other issues in the Middle East, including Lebanon, Iran, Iraq and Syria, are likely to follow suit” ED-this statement correctly recoginzed Isael as the source of the war problem. Israel that is, and the Christian Right.

Lynching in the Green Zone Silences a Needed Witness
AlJazeera Jan 03, 2007

"With the Democrats taking control of Congress on Jan. 4, 2007, there could finally be an opportunity to force out more of the full story, assuming the Democrats don’t opt for their usual course of putting “bipartisanship” ahead of oversight and truth."

Israeli Daily bemoans Archbishop's Speech on Israel/Palestinian Christians
Haaretz Israel Dec 31, 2006

Haaret writes: "The archbishop is telling us that it is Christians, aided and abetted by Jews, who have brought about Muslim intolerance toward Christians. Has the war, in fact, fueled an upsurge in Muslim attacks on Christians? Undoubtedly. Does the wall cause Bethlehem's Christians terrible hardship? No question." - Editor can only agree.

Vatican nearly alone in opposing hanging of Hussein
CNN News Dec 30, 2006

"The Church proclaims that human life should be protected from conception to natural death,'' said Cardinal Martino, a former papal envoy to the United Nations whose department deals with human rights issues.

"The death penalty is not a natural death. And no one can kill, not even the state,'' he said.

Israel Reneges on Promises
Aljazeera Dec 30, 2006

"More than 30 detainees, out of at least 9,000 being held in Israeli jails, were under consideration for release, according to Olmert’s aides. At their meeting, Olmert also promised Abbas to ease movement restrictions in the occupied West Bank and to release $100 million in frozen funds to the Palestinian Authority — moves that prompted outcries among hard-liners in Israel." - Editor, none of these promises have been kept.

Israel kills 28 Palestinians for every Israeli lost
JTA,Global News Service of the Jewish People Dec 29, 2006

The number of Israelis killed by Palestinians fell by half, from 50 in 2005 to 23 this year, including 17 civilians and six soldiers. Most Palestinian casualties occurred in Gaza in the second half of 2006.

Israel seeks pipeline for Iraqi oil
Guardian, Observer, London Dec 28, 2006

It is no surprise that Israel would seek to control Iraq's oil, and on the eve of the execution of Sadam Hussein we quote what may be his final message to the world, from the December 28 Edition of The Observer:

"The enemies of your country, the invaders and the Persians, have found your unity a barrier between you and those who are now ruling you. Therefore, they drove their hated wedge among you," he said in a handwritten letter released by his lawyer yesterday. "You have known your brother and leader as you have known your own family. He has not bowed down to the tyrants and remained a sword against them," Saddam wrote. "Oh great people, I call on you preserve the values that enabled you to be worthy of carrying out shouldering the faith and to be the light of civilization. Your unity stands against falling into servitude." He added: "Oh brave, pious Iraqis in the heroic resistance. Oh sons of the one nation, direct your enmity towards the invaders. Do not let them divide you ... Long live jihad [holy war] and the mujahideen against the invaders."

100 American Troops Die in December
Netster News Dec 28, 2006

Hanging in the balance: "At this time, U.S. officials believe the American citizens are still being held by their captors," embassy spokesman Lou Fintor said, without elaborating.

Greek Orthodox Church was the first to ban Bush from sanctuary
Global Research Dec 28, 2006

"They are war criminals and murderers of children. Therefore the Church of Nativity decided to ban them access into the holy shrine for ever,"
"Their entry into the church will tarnish it as [Bush's] hands are covered in the blood of the innocent..."

Pentecostal Power: The Christian Right on Ethanol
Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life Report Dec 27, 2006

In every on of 10 nation surveyed except India at least 10% of the population can be described as “renewalist”; the United States Brazil, Chile and Guatemala in Latin America; Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa in Africa; and India, the Philippines and South Korea in Asia; in three countries (Brazil, Guatemala and Kenya) membership in the renewalist movement approaches or exceeds 50%.

Dollar dropped in Iran asset move
BBC Dec 27, 2006

Saddam Hussein is scheduled to die before the year-end; his greatest "sin" to the USA was not that he killed a hundred, a thousand or perhaps many more civilians, for our own leaders have killed tenfold the biggest number we can imagine, and they have brought down the standard of living for the survivors. Hussein kill some but he improved the standard for those who survived. Hussein is anathema to the USA because he opposed Israeli occupation (as this writer does) and he started trading oil for Euros instead of dollars, as Iran is now doing. Oil sold for Euros now makes Iran an enemy of our administrators, its nothing to do with nuclear power.- Ed

Americans and Israelis Remain in Denial
Haaretz (11/04) Dec 26, 2006

The author, a pro-peace Israeli Jew stated two years ago: "Who would have believed that Israeli soldiers would kill hundreds of children and that the majority of Israelis would remain silent? Even the Palestinian children have become part of the dehumanization campaign: "

Sad to say, Mr. Levy was right, and Gaza is much worse today becasue there is no longer food for the survivors. -Ed

Is Israel the fulfillment of biblical prophecy?
Jerusalem Post Dec 26, 2006

Pew Research Center study revealed the terrible error of the Christian-Zionists; The Jesusalem post praises the movement and plans to capitalize on it, stating: "Seven-in-ten white evangelicals (69%) believe God gave Israel to the Jewish people and a solid majority (59%) believes that Israel is the fulfillment of biblical prophecy."
"Not surprisingly, the study found that "those who believe that God gave Israel to the Jews and that the State of Israel fulfills biblical prophecy are much more likely than others to sympathize with Israel in its dispute with the Palestinians."

Jewish leaders threaten to indict Ahmadinejad for 'inciting genocide'
JVA Dec 15, 2006

"An all-star lineup of prominent politicians, lawyers and Jewish leaders laid out the case against Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, noting his stated objective of “wiping Israel off the map.” - Editor notes: The United Nations wrote Israel onto the map with a fountain pen. Maybe it could be "wiped off" with a pen. Why not just give every Israeli a ticket to NewYork and $1000 per year for life. It would save us a lot of money, most Israelis would jump at the chance, and we would have peace in the Middle East and cheap oil again.

Jimmy Carter Says Newspapers Ignoring Book--- Or Hitting It As 'Anti-Israel'
Editor and Publisher Dec 15, 2006

"The book describes the abominable oppression and persecution in the occupied Palestinian territories, with a rigid system of required passes and strict segregation between Palestine's citizens and Jewish settlers in the West Bank. An enormous imprisonment wall is now under construction, snaking through what is left of Palestine to encompass more and more land for Israeli settlers"

"Jimmy Carter: Jew-Hater, Genocide-Enabler, Liar"
David Horowitz Dec 15, 2006

Mr. Horowitz's FrontPage is not stranger to We Hold These Truths...your writer was featured in it once, but did not rate the honor of being smeared by David Horowitz himself, only by his hireling hit man. The pattern is the same except that FrontPage did not do me the favor of quoting my work so others could read what I said, they only denouncing it.

Horowitz makes a serious error of quote Jimmy Carter, and not a word of what he quotes is less than 100% true. Now I really want to read the book! I disagree with Carter in only one respect, repression in Israel is 10 fold worse than South Africa every thought of being. In fact South Africa has a small beef against President Carter for comparing it to Israel...I was there in 1987! -Editor

Syrian Ambassador Slams US at CAIR-Hosted Conference
CNSNEWS Dec 13, 2006

Syrian envoy Moustapha said it was time for the Iraqis to take control of their country. "Iraqis have been pushed aside like children," he said.
Moustapha voiced wariness about talks with the U.S. about Iraq's future. "Syria is willing to help in Iraq," he said. "We want to help the Iraqis - not the U.S. project in Iraq. We do not want a deal with the United States. We are not going to accept dictation from a superpower."

Jimmy Carter's book is "Hatred, Not Analysis"
FrontPageMagazine Dec 12, 2006

On Tuesday night, December 12, Project Strait Gate staged a Vigil for Peace with Justice at the bookstore in Tempe, Arizona where the former President Carter was signing books for some 1700 ticket holders. About 150 chanting Israeli patriots were present demonstrating against Carter, and half as many supporters of Palestine. A review of Professor Stein’s letter and his strange turning against his former friend, Jimmy Carter merit study. FrontPage is a notoriously pro-Zionist publication.

3 Americans killed, 2 wounded in Iraq
Associated Press release Dec 11, 2006

"Last week, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki urged university professors and students to ignore a Sunni Arab insurgent group's warnings to avoid class, calling them "desperate attempts." The group had sent e-mails to students and posted signs at schools and mosques in Baghdad, saying students should stay away while it cleanses the campuses of Shiite death squads, according to a statement from al-Maliki's office. But the attacks on college students and professors have continued."

Former presidential candidate wants to nuke Iran
Steve Forbes Dec 11, 2006

Hitler is the most notable example, but there are also Lenin and Stalin, not to mention the biggest mass-murderer of them all, China's Mao Tse-tung. And during the 1970s in Cambodia Pol Pot and his bloodthirsty band killed upward of 3 million people."

Economist explains why Sudan is in the gunsights
From Economist Dec 08, 2006

Sudan's south, where 80% of the oil lies. After 1956, when the country gained independence, the south, which is Christian and animist, was in an almost permanent state of rebellion against the Muslim Arab north, demanding a bigger share of the national wealth and a greater degree of self-rule. This region, which holds the key to the development of Sudan, also holds the key to its peace in future; not only in the south, but also in the war-ravaged western region of Darfur.

Sermon that brought down the wrath of the IRS on a church
Editor Dec 06, 2006

We Hold These Truths opposes some of the positions taken by this church, especially its stand rejecting the right to life of the unborn. We also think churches should reject tax exempt subsidy because it will eventually evolve into control, as has happened to this church, which started out free, then accepted the subsidy, and now finds a gag in its mouth and a bit between its teeth.

Revelations on Israeli Lobby by former U.S. Senator
Senator James Aboresqz Dec 06, 2006

"I can tell you from personal experience that, at least in the Congress, the support Israel has in that body is based completely on political fear--fear of defeat by anyone who does not do what Israel wants done. I can also tell you that very few members of Congress--at least when I served there--have any affection for Israel or for its Lobby. What they have is contempt, but it is silenced by fear of being found out exactly how they feel. "

READ ONE NATION UNDER ISRAEL: ANDREW HURLEY expose' on the power and tactics of the Israeli lobby in the US Congress

Israel destroying homes of Palestinian Bedouins
AlJazeera Dec 06, 2006

Knesset Member, Talab El-Sana, said the demolitions are "a declaration of war by the state (Israel) against its Bedouin citizens". He also denounced the demolition of Bedouin homes as “a crime that is no better than those committed by the Israeli military in Beit Hanoun,” the northern Gaza city where Israeli forces launched a deadly offensive last month that claimed the lives of more than 20 Palestinian civilians.

READ ONE NATION UNDER ISRAEL: ANDREW HURLEY ANDREW HURLEY exposes the power and tactics of the Israeli lobby in the US Congress

No Guarantee of Success, Iraq Study Group Says
CNNNews Dec 06, 2006

"The recommendations come from a 10-person, bipartisan, congressionally-appointed commission led by two elder statesmen -- James Baker, who's served in various capacities for various Republican administrations, and Democrat Lee Hamilton, a former congressman from Indiana. A change is needed in the primary mission of U.S. forces in Iraq - shifting the focus from combat to training. The panel said devoting more troops to the training of Iraqis will allow the U.S. to start moving some troops out of Iraq "responsibly" - perhaps in the first quarter of 2008."

Why Muslim Congressman Won't Swear On Koran
CNSNews.com Dec 06, 2006

Lying in print is nothing new to talk show host and columnist Dennis Prager, who wrote in a Nov. 28 commentary that the Minnesota Democrat "has announced that he will not take his oath of office on the Bible, but on the bible of Islam, the Koran." But it turns out to be the talking head's imagination. Ellison did not announce it, and Prager did not bother to find out that congressmen are not sworn in on a Bible or any other book. It was all just a convenient lie for Mr. Prager to use to build anti-Islamic hatred...the kind we now hear all the time. The oath reads:

"I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God."

Project Strait Gate will seek debate outside The Church On The Way
Bob Singer Dec 06, 2006

More details

http://www.whtt.org/straitgate/index.php?id=14&news=1

Iraq and the hidden euro-dollar wars
William Engdahl, USA/Germany Dec 05, 2006

The present French-German-Russian alliance to create a counterweight to the United States requires not merely a French-led version of the Petro-dollar system, some Petro-euro system, that continues the bankrupt American Century, only with a French accent, and euros replacing dollars. That would only continue to destroy living standards across the world, adding to human waste and soaring unemployment in industrial as well as developing nations. We must entirely rethink what began briefly with some economists during the 1998 Asia crisis, the basis of a new monetary system which supports human development, and does not destroy it.

Episcopal Churches To Vote on Departure
Washington Post Dec 05, 2006

Other religious denominations have been roiled in recent years by the issue of homosexuality, but a major schism would be unprecedented in the Episcopal Church, which remained united even through the Civil War.

In Gaza, when home, hope, and family is gone
Jerusalem Post Nov 25, 2006

Report from Jesusalem Post on Fatma Omar an-Najar, 68. "The IDF said soldiers spotted the bomber and threw a stun grenade at her, causing the detonation of the explosives she was carrying. At the ramshackle compound where the extended family lives, her oldest daughter, Fatheya, 52, explained her motives. 'They [Israelis] destroyed her house, they killed her grandson - my son. Another grandson is in a wheelchair with an amputated leg,' she said. "She and I, we went to the mosque. We were looking for martyrdom."

Behind the headlines in Lebanon
Global News Service of the Jewish People Nov 25, 2006

JVA says: "Tuesday’s assassination of Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel, a fierce critic of Syrian influence on his country, has sharpened the divisions between Lebanese of pro-Western leanings and those in league with Syria"...and.. "Gemayel’s uncle, Bashir, was assassinated shortly after being elected Lebanon’s president in 1982. He was in favor of normalizing ties with the Jewish state." The Radical JVA (Global News Service of the Jewish People) goes on to blame the murder on Syria but offers no evidence. We Hold These Truths notes that Israel might not have more to gain by the assasination than any Arab state, and foreign assasinations are every day events for Israel.- Ed

Dormant cluster bombs have killed 24 in Lebanon
JTA Nov 24, 2006

Global News Service for the Jewish People reports: "Two mine-clearing experts were rushed to hospital in Lebanon after a dormant cluster bomb left behind by Israel exploded.... The experts from the London-based Mine Advisory Group, a Briton and a Bosnian, set off the bomb while clearing a field Friday. Lebanese security officials told media that the bomb was among those left behind by Israel during the Israel-Hezbollah war this summer...Officials say that as many as 24 Lebanese have been killed by dormant bombs since the war."

Rick Warren in Syria
A. Larry Ross Nov 21, 2006

“I believe it is a mistake to not talk to nations considered hostile -- isolation and silence has never solved conflict anywhere, whether between spouses or between nations,” Dr. Warren concluded.

Hundreds shield Gaza militant's house
Haaretz Nov 18, 2006

Palestinian killed, 30 wounded in Qalqilyah raid
One Palestinian was killed and 30 wounded by IDF fire in the West Bank city of Qalqilyah on Friday, as troops surrounded a house in which they believed the head of the Hamas military wing in the city was hiding.

According to Palestinian sources, two of the wounded were in critical condition, and six were moderately injured.

Zionists at Frontpage attack evangelical Rick Warren
Frontpagemag.com Nov 18, 2006

Frontpage says: "Big-name U.S. preachers, often otherwise sensible and orthodox in their faith, visit despotic regimes and naively curry favor with police state thugs." It seems the Zionists at Frontpage love the "preachers" when they fawn over the assassins in Israel, but would rather the Arab side is not seen. - Editor

Israeli envoy walks out of U.N. session
United Press International Nov 18, 2006

Last week the US delegate John Bolton vetoed a Security Council resolution to sanction Israel. It seems the whole world knows what is going on in Gaza, except for the Americans.

Israel Places House Majority Leader
JVA Nov 17, 2006

Global News Service of the Jewish People:"Hoyer has made a point of promoting bipartisan support of Israel, has urged freshmen lawmakers to join the numerous congressional delegations to Israel he has led, and has isolated Democrats who have been strongly critical of the Jewish state." http://us.f520.mail.yahoo.com/ym/ShowLetter?Search=&Idx=3&YY=39387&y5beta=yes&y5beta=yes&order=down&sort=date&pos=0&view=a&head=b

Women in Black Protest Omert in LA
JVA Nov 17, 2006

Addresses were given by Livni and Likud Party leader Benjamin Netanyahu. The high-profile Israeli presence included six Cabinet ministers and a bevy of high-powered Israeli business leaders.

"We'll succeed unless we quit," Bush said
AP Nov 17, 2006

British ground forces and U.S. military helicopters fought with gunmen Friday in southern Iraq where four American security contractors and their Austrian co-worker were abducted in a convoy hijacking.

Consumer Price Index Down; so what?
AP release Nov 16, 2006

AP says: "The slowdown in inflation provided a boost to Americans' weekly incomes, which were up by 3.3 percent in October compared to a year ago, after discounting inflation. That was the biggest 12-month increase in eight years and followed a period of extremely sluggish wage growth."

America in No-Win War for Israel
Harmony Grant Nov 16, 2006

"They can keep hoping till the sea turns to Kool-Aid, but as much as 60 percent of Democratic funding comes from Jewish constituents. We’re more likely to see Al Gore deny global warming than to see Democrats stand against Zionist interests. So much for the 'referendum.'"Author's page

Six US troops killed in Iraq as France calls for withdrawal timetable
Albawaba Nov 15, 2006

"Personally I think that if it left straight away it would be even worse but we need a timetable for retreat for the multinational force," he said on France 2 television. "And we also need the responsibility for security to be transferred to the Iraqis."

Widening Civil War Strikes Iraq's Academia
Chistopher Bodeen Nov 14, 2006

Ali al-Adib, a Shiite lawmaker, said there was little question Tuesday's incident was a mass kidnapping and demanded that U.S. troops be held responsible for the security lapse.

Near Starving Gazans Refuse to Recognize Israel
Editor Nov 14, 2006

Last week 19 Palestinian civilians were killed in an Israeli artillery barrage on the Gaza town of Beit Hanoun. Israel said the barrage was caused by a technical failure.

The United States and the European Union regard Hamas as a terrorist organization and have cut off direct aid to its administration. As a result, the Palestinian government has largely been unable to pay its 165,000 workers since April.

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http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070107/ap_on_go_co/us_iraq
Pelosi hints at denying Bush Iraq funds 14 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said newly empowered Democrats will not give President Bush a blank check to wage war in Iraq, hinting they could deny funding if he seeks additional troops.

"If the president chooses to escalate the war, in his budget request, we want to see a distinction between what is there to support the troops who are there now," she said in an interview broadcast Sunday.

"The American people and the Congress support those troops. We will not abandon them. But if the president wants to add to this mission, he is going to have to justify it and this is new for him because up until now the Republican Congress has given him a blank check with no oversight, no standards, no conditions," said Pelosi, D-Calif.

Her comments on CBS' "Face the Nation" came as Bush worked to finish his new war plan that could send as many as 20,000 additional U.S. troops to Iraq and provide more money for jobs and reconstruction programs.

Bush is expected to announce his plan as early as Wednesday.

When asked about the possibility of cutting off funds, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer declined to say whether Democrats might do so, saying only that the current strategy clearly is "not working."

"I don't want to anticipate that," said Hoyer, D-Md., on "Fox News Sunday."

Some military officials, familiar with the discussions, say Bush at first could send 8,000 to 10,000 new troops to Baghdad, and possibly Anbar Province, and leave himself the option of adding more later if security does not improve.

"Based on the advice of current and former military leaders, we believe this tactic would be a serious mistake," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said Saturday in the Democratic radio address.

Pelosi and Reid told Bush in a letter last week that Democrats oppose additional U.S. forces in Iraq and want him to begin withdrawing in four months to six months American troops already there.

Pointing to the November elections that ousted Republicans from control of the House and Senate, Pelosi said on CBS the public is "watching to see what difference this election can make. The president ought to heed their message. ... We should not be obliged to an open-ended war."

She said Democrats are not interesting in cutting off money for troops already in Iraq — "We won't do that" — and that her party favors increased the overall size of the Army by 30,000 and Marines by 20,000 "to make sure we are able to protect the American people."

"That's different though, than adding troops to Iraq," Pelosi said.

The speaker stopped short of stating categorically that Democrats would block money for additional troops in Iraq. But she did say, "The burden is on the president to justify any additional resources. ... The president's going to have to engage with Congress in the justification for any additional troops."

Sen. Joe Biden, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said it would be a "tragic mistake" if Bush chooses to increase troops. But Biden, D-Del., said cutting off funds was not an option.

"As a practical matter there is no way to say this is going to be stopped," Biden said regarding a troop increase, unless enough congressional Republicans join Democrats in convincing Bush the strategy is wrong.

Biden added that it probably would be an unconstitutional violation of separation of powers if Democrats were to block Bush's efforts as commander in chief after Congress had voted to authorize going to war.

"It's unconstitutional to say, you can go, but we're going to micromanage," Biden said.

Although most of the discussion about Bush's anticipated plan has focused on troop strength, his strategy also is expected to address political and economic issues.

Military analysts say Army Lt. Gen. Peter Chiarelli, who recently finished his tour as the No. 2 general in Iraq, has recommended a short-term jobs program.

Bush is said to favor short-term jobs programs, making micro-loans to small business and increasing the amount of money that military commanders can spend quickly on local projects to improve the daily lives of Iraqis.

Bush is expected to continue his briefings with lawmakers this week, culminating in a meeting with bipartisan leadership on Wednesday, according to lawmakers and aides.

Since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, Congress has approved about $500 billion for Iraq, Afghanistan and other terrorism-fighting efforts. The White House is working on its largest-ever appeal for more war funds — a record $100 billion, at least. It will be submitted along with Bush's Feb. 5 budget.

"This war cost a trillion dollars if it ended now," Pelosi said. "But more important than that, the lives lost, the casualties sustained, the lost reputation in the world, and the damage to our military readiness. For these and other reasons we have to say to the president, in your speech ... we want to see a plan in a new direction because the direction you've been taking us in has not been successful.

"So when the bill comes ... it will receive the harshest scrutiny. What do we really need to protect our troops? What is there for an escalation? What is the justification for that?"

___

Associated Press writer Deb Riechmann contributed to this report.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran-Israel_relations
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Iran-Israel relations

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Please update the article to reflect recent events, and remove this template when finished.

Relations between Iran and Israel have alternated from close political alliances between the two states during the era of the Pahlavi dynasty to hostility following the rise to power of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Currently, the countries do not have diplomatic relations with each other. Iran does not even formally recognize Israel as a country, and official government texts often simply refer to it as the "Zionist entity " or the "zionist regime."

The history of the Persian Jews has been uninterrupted for over 2,500 years. It is a Mizrahi Jewish community in the territory of today's Iran, the historical core of the former Persian Empire, which began as early as the 8th century BCE, at the time of captivity of the ancient Israelites in Khorasan.

As of 2005, Iran has the largest Jewish population in the Middle East outside of Israel. A larger population of Iranian Jews reside in Israel with the President of Israel Moshe Katsav, the former Chief of Staff / Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz, current Chief of staff Dan Halutz and Israeli hip-hop star Kobi Shimoni (Subliminal) being the most famous of this group.

Contents [hide]
1 Pre-revolution relations
2 Islamic Revolution
2.1 Khatami
2.2 Ahmadinejad
3 Iran-Israel military relations
3.1 Perceptions of Israeli threats to attack Iran during 2003-2007
4 Israeli officials of Iranian descent
5 See also
6 External links
7 References


[edit] Pre-revolution relations
Upon its establishment in 1948 and until the Iranian Revolution in 1979, Israel enjoyed cordial relations with Iran (then ruled by the Pahlavi dynasty). Iran was one of the first nations to internationally recognize Israel, and was considered one of Israel's closest and few Muslim friends (Israel has maintained a stable partnership with Turkey, as well). In spite of this, Iran voted in support of the UN General Assembly Resolution 3379 in 1975 which equated Zionism with racism (the resolution, however, was later revoked with Resolution 4686 in 1991, which Iran voted against). However, Iran and Israel did develop close military ties during this period. This can be seen from the development of joint venture military projects, such as Project Flower, the Iranian-Israeli attempt to develop a new missile [1]. For details on Iran's strategic reasoning during the 1970s, see "Israel and the Origins of Iran’s Arab Option: Dissection of a Strategy Misunderstood," Middle East Journal, Volume 60, Number 3, Summer 2006.

[edit] Islamic Revolution
It was Ayatollah Khomeini who first declared Israel as an "enemy of Islam" during the second Pahlavi period in his campaign against Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who supported Israel.

After the second phase of the 1979 Iranian Revolution which witnessed the establishment of the Islamic Republic, Iran withdrew its recognition of the state of Israel and cut off all official relations.

However, declassified reports exist which show Israel supplying Iran with weapons during the Iran-Iraq war. [2]. Iran is said to have purchased weapons valued at $2.5 billion from Israel through third party intermediaries during the Iran-Iraq war during the 1980s and 1990s (an Israeli source) [3] which ultimately drew.[4][5]

In 1998, Israeli businessman Nahum Manbar was sentenced to 16 years in prison in Israel for doing business with Tehran, and in the course of the investigation, "hundreds of companies" were found to have illegal business dealings with Iran. [6] The fall-out reached the United States as some transactions were alleged to have been part of the Iran-Contra scandal.

According to Dr. Trita Parsi, author of "Treacherous Triangle - The Secret Dealings of Israel, Iran and the United States," (Yale University Press, 2007), Iran's strategic imperatives compelled the Khomeini government to maintain clandestine ties to Israel, while hope that the periphery doctrine could be resurrected motivated the Jewish State's assistance to Iran.

[edit] Khatami
Under reformist Iranian President Mohammad Khatami, elected in 1997, some believed Iran and Israel would work to improve relations. While at first Khatami's election did not seem to change anything—he called Israel an "illegal state" and a "parasite," [7] signs of small moderation did appear. For example, Khatami has said that Jews should be "safe in Iran" and that all religious minorities should be protected, as they always have been.[8]. In January 2004, he spoke to an Israeli reporter who asked him on what grounds Iran would recognize Israel. This was believed to be the first time he had spoken publicly with an Israeli [9].

At the funeral of Pope John Paul II in April 2005, Khatami was seated close to Israeli President Moshe Katsav. Katsav said that he shook Khatami's hand and the two had a brief conversation about Iran (Katsav was born in Iran). However, Khatami denied this [10].

Other reports indicate that Iran did try to initiate a rapprochment with Israel, recognizing its existence in a proposal to the United States. The report claims that Iran's peace proposal with Israel was not accepted by the United States.[1]

[edit] Ahmadinejad
Main article: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Israel
As of 2006 relations between the two states became very tense primarily due to the election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. After his election, Ahmadinejad frequently began to call for a complete end to the State of Israel, and has made various anti-Semitic remarks.

On December 8, 2005, Ahmadinejad gave an interview with Iran's Arabic channel 'Al-Alam' during a summit of Muslim nations in Islam's holy city of Mecca:

"Some European countries insist on saying that during World War II, Hitler burned millions of Jews and put them in concentration camps," Ahmadinejad said. "Any historian, commentator or scientist who doubts that is taken to prison or gets condemned. Although we don't accept this claim, if we suppose it is true, if the Europeans are honest they should give some of their provinces in Europe—like in Germany, Austria or other countries—to the Zionists and the Zionists can establish their state in Europe. You offer part of Europe and we will support it."

[edit] Iran-Israel military relations
According to the report of the U.S. Congressional Committees Investigating the Iran-Contra Affair issued in November of 1987, "the sale of U.S. arms to Iran through Israel began in the summer of 1985, after receiving the approval of President Reagan." [11] These sales included "2,008 TOW missiles and 235 parts kits for Hawk missiles had been sent to Iran via Israel." Further shipments of up to US$2 billion of American weapons from Israel to Iran consisting of 18 F-4 fighter-bombers, 46 Skyhawk fighter-bombers, and nearly 4,000 missiles were folied by the U.S. Department of Justice, and "unverified reports alleged that Israel agreed to sell Iran Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, radar equipment, mortar and machinegun ammunition, field telephones, M-60 tank engines and artillery shells, and spare parts for C-130 transport planes."[12] [13] The London Observer also estimated that Israel's arms sales to Iran during the war totalled US$ 500 million annually [14], and Time Magazine reported that throughout 1981 and 1982, "the Israelis reportedly set up Swiss bank accounts to handle the financial end of the deals." [15] (For more on Israeli Hawk missile sales to Iran see Richard Johns, "Arms Embargo Which Cannot Withstand The Profit Motive," Financial Times (London), 13 November 1987)

Israel also was involved in the arming of Iran prior to the Iran-Iraq war:

Project "Flower" Tzur, a joint collaboration between Iran and Israel, aimed to develop a "state-of-the-art sea-to-sea missile, an advanced version of the U.S. Harpoon missile, with a range of 200 kilometers." (See: Ronen Bergman, "5 billion Reasons to Talk to Iran," Haaretz (Tel Aviv), 19 March 1999; in "Israel's Outstanding Debt to Iran Viewed," FBIS Document FTS19990319001273, 19 March 1999.
Israeli Defense Minister General Ezer Weizmann and Iranian Vice Minister of War General Hasan Toufanian discussed the co-production of Israel's Jericho-2 missile, code named Project Flower. (See: "Minutes from Meeting Held in Tel Aviv between H. E. General M. Dayan, Foreign Minister of Israel, and H.E. General H. Toufanian, Vice Minister of War, Imperial Government of Iran," Top Secret Minutes from Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 18 July 1977, in Digital National Security Archive)
Israeli arms deals to Iran continued after the war, although sporadically and unofficially. [16] [17] [18] [19] [20]

[edit] Perceptions of Israeli threats to attack Iran during 2003-2007
A Scottish newspaper claimed in November 2003 that Israel warned that it is prepared to take unilateral military action against Iran if the international community fails to stop any development of nuclear weapons at the country's atomic energy facilities.[2] It cited Israeli defence minister Shaul Mofaz stating, "under no circumstances would Israel be able to tolerate nuclear weapons in Iranian possession". In December 2005, a British newspaper claimed that the Israeli military had been ordered by Israeli prime minister (at that time) Ariel Sharon to plan for possible strikes on uranium enrichments sites in Iran in March 2006, based on Israeli intelligence estimates that Iran would be able to build nuclear weapons in two to four years. It was claimed that the special forces command was in the highest stage of readiness for an attack (state G) in December. Ariel Sharon reportedly said, "Israel - and not only Israel - cannot accept a nuclear Iran. We have the ability to deal with this and we're making all the necessary preparations to be ready for such a situation."[3] Israeli military Chief of Staff, Dan Halutz, was quoted as responding to the question of how far Israel was ready to go to stop Iran's nuclear energy program with the statement "Two thousand kilometers".[4]

Seymour Hersh has also claimed that US Department of Defense civilians led by Douglas Feith have been working with Israeli planners and consultants to develop and refine potential nuclear, chemical-weapons, and missile targets inside Iran[5].

Israel is estimated to have between 200-400 nuclear weapons and well-developed missile delivery systems, but there are neither confirmations nor denials nor other information regarding the intent to use them in the operations allegedly being planned.

On 08 May 2006, Israeli Vice Premier Shimon Peres said in an interview with Reuters that "the president of Iran should remember that Iran can also be wiped off the map," Army Radio reported.[6] Peres, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, drew unusually stiff criticism from an analyst on Israel's state television, Yoav Limor, for talking of destroying another country.[7]

On May 26 2006, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov reiterated Moscow's commitment to supply Iran with sophisticated anti-aircraft missiles.

A secret Israeli plan to strike Iranian nuclear enrichment facilities at Natanz with nuclear bunker busters was disclosed to the Times of London in January 2007. [21] [22]

[edit] Israeli officials of Iranian descent

Moshe Katsav, the current President of Israel

Dan Halutz, Chief of Staff of the IDF, former Israeli Air Force commander

Shaul Mofaz, Minister of Transport and a Deputy PM, former Minister of Defense and Chief of the General Staff of the IDF


[edit] See also
Iran-Palestine relations
Persian Jews
Foreign relations of Iran
Foreign relations of Israel
U.S.-Iran relations
Iran-Contra Affair
Iran-Iraq War
Cyrus the Great
Karine A
Hezbollah
Project Flower
International Holocaust Cartoon Competition
Holocaust conference

[edit] External links
Trita Parsi, Israel Readies for Iran Showdown by Attacking Lebanon, IPS, July 17, 2006
Trita Parsi, Under the Veil of Ideology: The Israeli-Iranian Strategic Rivalry, MIDDLE EAST REPORT ONLINE, June 9, 2006.
Trita Parsi, A Modus Vivendi Between Jerusalem and Tehran, Forward, March 17, 2006.
Trita Parsi A challenge to Israel's strategic primacy, Bitterlemons.org, January 05, 2006.
Trita Parsi Wither the Persian-Jewish alliance? Bitterlemons.org, December 16, 2004.
The Iran-Israel misconception - Analysis of how Iran views Israel and determines its Israel policy.
More sources on the Manbar Trial
CNN on the Manbar Trial
Iran Inquiry and Analysis Page of MEMRI.ORG
Radis - The Voice of Israel Radio in Persian

[edit] References
^ See: "Iran offered 'to make peace with Israel'" by Gareth Porter. Asia Times, May 2006. Link: http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/HE26Ak01.html
^ Israel threatens strikes on Iranian nuclear targets, Ross Dunn, Scotsman.com, Nov 23, 2003
^ Israel readies forces for strike on nuclear Iran, Uzi Mahnaimi, December 11, 2005, The Sunday Times
^ Israel's War with Iran, James Petras, uruknet.info, December 28, 2005 - this has a quote apparently from the Financial Times
^ http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/?050124fa_fact
^ http://www.dominicantoday.com/app/article.aspx?id=13207
^ http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/world/3850070.html
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran-Israel_relations"
Categories: Wikipedia articles in need of updating | Foreign relations of Israel | Foreign relations of Iran | Jews and Judaism in Persia and Iran

http://www.imemc.org/article/23553
Hamas: "The United States is funding a coup against the government"
Saturday January 06, 2007 07:41 by Sa'ed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

Mosheer Al Masry, one of the senior Hamas officials in the Gaza Strip said on Friday that the United States is attempting to encourage a revolt against the Hamas-led Palestinian government.

Al Masry stated that the Bush administration intends to transfer an amount of $84 million to the Palestinian Security Forces loyal to president Mahmoud Abbas.

He added that the government demands Abbas to reject the U.S policy “which aims at tearing the Palestinian people apart and create further violence among the factions”.

The statements of Al Masry came as the violent clashes between Hamas and Fateh gunmen intensified and more residents and officials of the two movements were killed and injured.

After Abbas called for early legislative and presidential elections over the failure or unity talks, Hamas said that the president is mounting a coup against its government.

Reuters obtained a U.S government document stating that the United States wants to send aid money to the Palestinian presidency in order to “assist the P.A in fulfilling its commitments under the Road Map Plan, and impose law and orders in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip”, Israeli online daily, Haaretz, reported.

Following Friday prayers, Palestinian Prime Minister, Ismail Haniyya, said that the Palestinians should end the infighting and focus on resisting the Israeli occupation to their land.

Haniyya added that the “fight is not internal, but it is against the occupation”.

Meanwhile, Fateh official Jibril Rajoub said during a celebration marking the anniversary of the movement that the battle is not between Fateh and Hamas, “buy, it is a battle against the occupation”.

He added that this battle is not a battle of abductions and revenge, and called for halting all acts of internal violence.

On Friday, the Palestinians buried seven Fateh men who were killed in one of the bloodiest clashes in the Gaza Strip.

Several gunmen fired rounds of live ammunition into the air and called for revenge.

http://www.maannews.net/en/index.php?opr=ShowDetails&ID=18385
US condemns Israeli development of the Maskiot settlement, considering it a violation of the roadmap
Date: 29 / 12 / 2006 Time: 11:12

U.S. State Department spokesman, Gonzo Gallagos, has said:

"We are aware of reports about the Maskiot settlement. The establishment of a new settlement or the expansion of an existing settlement would violate Israel's obligations under the Roadmap.

"We are seeking an explanation from the Israeli Government regarding this development. The U.S. calls on Israel to meet its Roadmap obligations and avoid taking steps that could be viewed as pre-determining the outcome of final status negotiations. The Roadmap specifically states that 'progress will require and depend upon the good faith efforts of the parties'….

"We will continue to work with Israel and the Palestinians to encourage progress towards the realization of President Bush's vision of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security."