Turkish FM meets with Hamas leader in Damascus
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
By: ICEJ News

News in Brief

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu met with Hamas political bureau chief Khaled Mashaal in Damascus on Monday in the latest sign that Turkey is turning towards a more Islamic orientation to the detriment of its relations with Israel and the West. The two reportedly discussed ways to cooperate in undermining Israel’s blockade of the Gaza Strip and efforts to bring reconciliation between the Islamic terror militia and the government of Palestinian Authority chairman Mahmoud Abbas. Mashaal also congratulated his Turkish hosts for standing up to "Israeli aggression" and welcomed its demand for compensation for the nine Turkish citizens who were killed during the May 31 Mavi Marmara flotilla incident. Davutoglu also met with Syrian dictator Bashar Assad during his one-day visit, issuing a joint call for coordinated action to convince Israel to end its blockade of the Strip and "additional accelerated efforts" to establish an international and independent investigation into the flotilla incident.

Tisha B’Av marked by Israelis and Jews worldwide
Israelis and the Diaspora on Tuesday marked the fast day of Tisha B’Av on the Hebrew calendar, a day of mourning which has long been associated with many tragic events which have befallen the Jewish people down through history, including the destruction of both Jewish temples. The First Temple was destroyed by the Babylonians on this date in 586 BC and the Second Temple by the Romans under Titus on the same date in 70 AD, leading to an exile which lasted almost 2,000 years. Israelis and Jews all over the world commemorate Tisha B’Av by reading the book of Lamentations and by reminding each other of the blessing of continuation. The origins of this string of tragedies on the ninth of Av, according to many Jews, lies in the bad report brought by 10 of the 12 spies which Moses sent in to scope out the Promised Land.  Speaking to a gathering of Italian Jewish leaders at the Arch of Titus in Rome last night, visiting IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi said, "We are here... on the eve of Tisha B'Av, the day the Jewish Temple was destroyed by Titus, and together with the Jewish Community we say: 'The people of Israel are alive!,' Despite all the misery and horrible tragedies that struck us since the destruction of the Second Temple and our exile, the Jewish People were able to re-establish their national independence in 1948. The Israel Defense Forces, which I'm proud to head, carries the responsibility for the security of this independence. It is the force that when required, will prevent tragedies, like the one commemorated by this arch."

Iron Dome system to be deployed in Sderot by November
Even as fears of a regional war increase, Israel’s deterrence received a large boost on Tuesday with the announcement that the Iron Dome air defense system will be fully operational and deployed by November. Yossi Drucker, director of Rafael's Iron Dome project, told Israel Radio that the system had exceeded the IDF’s requirements and would be on the ground protecting the Gaza border community of Sderote and other strategic installations around the country in increasing numbers after the Pentagon agreed to fund the production of further systems earlier this year. "We will move toward operational deployment of the batteries in the field as soon as possible," promised Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Monday. Deployment of the system, along with Israel’s already operational Arrow system for defense against heavier, long range missiles, has the potential to neutralize one of the biggest threats to Israel in the form of rockets fired at its cities, which Israel’s enemies have sought to exploit as a way of bypassing Israel’s superior conventional military.

Defense ties with India increase
Meanwhile, India is reported to be in talks with Israel to buy the new system, as well as an additional two Israeli Phalcon AWACS (airborne warning and control systems) systems in addition to the three already purchased by the Indian Air Force.

Israel to speed up construction of border fence with Sinai
The Israeli cabinet on Monday decided to accelerate the construction of a security fence along the southern border with the Egyptian Sinai in order to block the growing number of infiltrators from African countries. Interior Ministry representatives reported that over 26,000 infiltrators - mostly from Eritrea and Sudan - are already in Israel and some 1,200 infiltrators enter Israel each month. An in-depth analysis of 3,500 infiltrators found that only two might be eligible for refugee status; all of the others came looking for work. There is a considerable industry that brings labor migrants to Israel from Africa under the guise of "refugees,” the Prime Minister's Office stated.

AT&T puts its confidence in Israeli high tech R&D
The Israeli economy, already on the rebound after the global economic slump of the last two years, will get another shot in the arm later this year when telecommunications giant AT&T opens an innovation center at the headquarters of AMDOCS Israel in Ra’anana. The continued willingness of large technology companies to invest in Israel is seen across the industry as a vote of confidence in Israel’s political and economic stability as well as its world class educational institutions and technological innovation. “We have confidence in Israel as a center for continued innovation, because of how many start-ups are fostered here,” said John Donovan, chief technology officer of AT&T. “What’s taking place in Israel is very well aligned with telecommunications and the future of services that we’re looking to provide.”

Al-Qaida leader accuses Arab leaders of being 'Zionists'
In his first on-line message in months, Al-Qaida number two Ayman al-Zawahiri on Tuesday accused the moderate Arab governments in Egypt, Jordan, the Palestinian Authority, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf oil sheikdoms of being "Zionists" who are helping Israel's siege of the Gaza Strip. "These Arab Zionists are more dangerous than Jewish Zionists," Zawahiri said. "Who is besieging our people in Gaza and is surrounding them with an underground metal fence? Is he not the chief of Arab Zionists [Egyptian President] Hosni Mubarak? And who is aiding Mossad to kill the Mujahedeen [holy warriors] and capture them? Is he not the Arab Zionist [PA leader] Mahmoud Abbas?" He wrapped up his accusations by chiding US President Barack Obama for threatening the Taliban in Afghanistan. “We will see who will not return to Kabul because he will flee it hastily in fear," he warned. "Obama, whether you admit it or not, Muslims have defeated you in Iraq and Afghanistan and will defeat you in Palestine, Somalia and the Islamic Maghreb."