Syria accuses Israel of strike on army base reportedly used by Iranians near Damascus
The Israeli Air Force struck a military base near Damascus, Syrian state media reported Saturday (2nd). The site is believed to have been earmarked for use by Iranian forces in Syria and local militias loyal to them.
The Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) quoted a Syrian military official as saying that Israel fired surface-to-surface missiles at the base from an IDF base in the Golan Heights.
Saudi Arabia’s Al Arabiya network and Lebanese TV Channel Al Mustaqbal reported that more than 10 people were killed in the strike, including Iranian troops.
(israelhayom.com)
Israel will not allow Iran to entrench itself in Syria, Netanyahu warns
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned in a video statement that Israel would not allow Iran to gain a foothold in Syria, hours after reports that his country had struck an Iranian military installation near Damascus.
“Let me reiterate Israel’s policy: We will not allow a regime hell-bent on the annihilation of the Jewish state to acquire nuclear weapons. We will not allow that regime to entrench itself militarily in Syria, as it seeks to do, for the express purpose of eradicating our state,” said Netanyahu in the video released Saturday night (2nd) after the Jewish Sabbath.
A longer version of the video was broadcast Sunday (3rd) at the Saban Forum of the Brookings Institution in Washington D.C.
(jta.org; timesofisrael.com)
PM: ‘When the regime falls, Israel will be the first to renew relations with Iran’
Speaking at the Saban Forum, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that “one day the Iranian regime will fall, Iranian mothers and fathers will rejoice in the streets and Israel will be first in line to renew diplomatic relations and rebuild a partnership together.”
“There are two aspects in common to the Iranian regime and Nazi Germany: A merciless commitment to tyranny and terrorism and their commitment to the murder of Jews,” said Netanyahu.
(ynetnews.com)
Is reconciliation between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority possible? Pinhas Inbari
One of the major obstacles to implementing the Hamas-Fatah reconciliation is the Palestinian Authority’s difficulty in paying government workers’ salaries.
Saudi Arabia rejected PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas’ request to finance the reconciliation.
Qatar is prepared to do so, but Abbas cannot comply because of the rift between Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
Abbas does not want Abu Dhabi’s money because it comes via his enemy in Fatah, Muhammad Dahlan.
(jcpa.org)
PA: Hamas trying to thwart the reconciliation initiative
Yusuf al-Mahmoud, the official spokesman of the Palestinian Authority (PA) government, on Saturday night (2nd) blasted Hamas after the group demanded that the PA government step down as it was not keeping its promises that were reached in a recent reconciliation agreement.
Mahmoud said Hamas’ statement was “a clear withdrawal from national reconciliation and a fatal blow to all efforts invested to end the division between the long-time rivals.”
(israelnn.com)
Hamas: Renew intifada to stop US from recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital
Hamas called on the Palestinians on Saturday (2nd) to “renew the Jerusalem intifada” as a response to reports that US President Donald Trump plans to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
“This step is a blatant violation of international law, which states that Jerusalem is occupied territory, and will serve to provide a cover for the crimes of Judaizing the city and expelling Palestinians,” Hamas said in a statement.
(ynetnews.com)
IDF declares the area around Gaza a closed military zone
The army has declared the area surrounding the Gaza Strip a “closed military zone” in light of unspecified activities in the area, the military censor cleared for publication on Sunday (3rd).
The nature of the military activity in the area and the exact location of the closures were not allowed to be published.
The closure comes a little over a month after the military destroyed an attack tunnel belonging to the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror group, which entered Israeli territory from the Gaza City of Khan Younis.
(timesofisrael.com; afp.com)
Missile launched into open area in Golan from Syria
A missile was launched into an open area in the Golan Heights Sunday (3rd) from Syria, according to the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit.
There were no casualties and no damage was done. The missile was likely spillover from the internal fighting in Syria, according to the IDF.
(jpost.com)
151 UN states vote to disavow Israeli ties to Jerusalem – Tovah Lazaroff
The UN General Assembly voted 151-6 to disavow Israeli ties to Jerusalem as part of six anti-Israel resolutions it approved on Thursday (11/30). The six countries included Israel, the U.S., Canada, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and Nauru. Nine countries abstained: Australia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Honduras, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, South Sudan and Togo. All the EU members voted against Israel.
The resolution on Jerusalem stated that “any actions taken by Israel, the occupying power, to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration on the Holy City of Jerusalem are illegal and therefore null and void and have no validity whatsoever.
The General Assembly also approved a resolution sponsored by Syria which condemned Israel’s continued presence on the Golan Heights. It was approved with 105 nations in favor, 6 against, and 58 who abstained.
(jpost.com)
Israel’s mythical “isolation” – Elliott Abrams
Last week Kenya inaugurated President Uhuru Kenyatta for his second term.
Only one Western head of government was present, joining ten African presidents.
Only one foreign leader was asked to speak at the celebratory lunch, while being seated next to Kenyatta: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Israel is succeeding in an extraordinary campaign of outreach to India and China, to Africa, and to Latin America.
(israelcfr.com)
