Trump may attend opening ceremony for U.S. Embassy
US President Donald Trump said that he may visit Israel in May for the opening of a new US Embassy in Jerusalem. Trump commented during an Oval Office meeting Monday (5th) with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The new embassy is set to open in May, and Trump says he’ll head to Israel for the dedication ceremony “if I can.”
A ribbon-cutting for an interim facility is being planned to coincide with the 70th anniversary of Israel’s Independence.
Netanyahu arrived at the White House on Monday (5th) for meetings with Trump. He will speak later in the week at the annual conference of the pro-Israel group AIPAC.
(worldisraelnews.com; israelnn.com; ap.com)
Israeli Ambassador Dermer at AIPAC: Decision to recognize Jerusalem punctures the lie that Jews in Israel are foreign colonists
Israeli Ambassador Ron Dermer told AIPAC on Sunday (4th): “President Trump, in making his decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, punctured the great lie that the Jewish people are foreign colonists in the Land of Israel….It means that the Jewish people are in their homeland by right, not simply by might.”
(jpost.com)
Palestinians slam Guatemala over Jerusalem embassy move
The Palestinians slammed Guatemala after President Jimmy Morales announced Sunday (4th) his country would move its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem in May.
In a statement carried by the official Wafa news agency, the Palestinian Authority called on Arab and Muslim countries “to take a firm stand against this move, which violates international law and principles, as well as UN resolutions.”
Morales said on Sunday, (4th) “The Guatemalan Embassy will move to Jerusalem two days after the U.S. Embassy does in May.”
(timesofisrael.com; wafa.ps)
Palestinian diplomat hails Iran’s stance against U.S., Israel
Palestinian Ambassador to Iran Salah Zawawi said the stance of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei against the U.S. and Israel is a “source of pride.” Zawawi said he is proud to live in a country which is keen on annihilation of the Zionist regime. He added that Israel is a “cancerous tumor” that should be removed.
(irna.ir)
Iran says it will negotiate on missiles if West dismantles Nuclear arsenal
Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency on Saturday (3rd) quoted armed forces spokesman Gen. Masoud Jazayeri as saying, “The precondition for negotiation over Iran’s missiles is the dismantling of the U.S and Europe’s nuclear weapons and long-range missiles.”
(ap.com; militarytimes.com)
Iranians blame ‘Jewish influence’ for ugly new mosque design
The Jewish people were surprised to find themselves entangled in a heated debate over mosque design in Iran.
A massive new mosque being constructed in Tehran sports a sleek, minimalist design that architects say evokes the “austerity of early Islam.”
But more conservative Muslim voices have slammed the departure from the more traditional domes and minarets characteristic of mosques across the Middle East.
Some called it the result of “secular and Jewish influence.”
The New Arab reported that one local news website Mashregh, went so far as to state that the new mosque looks like a Jewish kippa (yarmulke), and that the architects should be tried for “treason” for aiding a Zionist conspiracy.
Next time someone tells you that Iran has no problem with the Jews in general, and is only opposed to Israeli government policies, remember this story.
(israeltoday.co.il)
Hamas siphoning off electric power in Gaza – Yoav Zitun
Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) Maj.-Gen. Yoav Mordechai unloaded footage to his Facebook page showing Hamas operatives hooking up illicitly to a Gaza power line Saturday (3rd) in order to siphon electricity. “The Hamas terror group continues stealing from the people of Gaza,” Mordechai wrote. “This power was intended for hospitals and schools, but Hamas is uninterested in the populace and even exploits it.”
“Only a week ago it was published that Hamas was stealing fuel brought into the Strip for the Palestinian public, and selling it on the private market to the highest bidder.”
(ynetnews.com)
Pro-Isis teacher tried to recruit children for attacks in London – Michael Holden
A British supporter of Islamic State was found guilty on Friday (2nd) of trying to recruit children he was teaching into an “army” of jihadists to help carry out a wave of attacks across London. Umar Haque, 25, showed the children beheading videos and other violent militant propaganda, and made them role-play attacking police officers.
Dean Haydon, head of the Metropolitan Police Encounter Terrorism Command, said, “He tried and he did, we believe, radicalize vulnerable children from the ages 11 to 14” Haque used the guise of teaching Islamic studies to groom 110 children into becoming militants at the Lantern of Knowledge, an Islamic school in east London. Haque told the children he was part of ISIS and threatened that they would suffer the same fate as those in the militant videos he showed them, if they told their parents or teachers.
(reuters.com)
Iranian wrestling head resigns over anti-Israel policy
The head of Iran’s Wrestling Federation resigned over the country’s policy of forcing its athletes to forfeit matches against Israeli opponents.
Rasoul Khadem, a former Olympic gold and bronze medalist and two-time world champion reportedly announced his resignation last week. Khadem also reportedly indicated in a statement posted on the Iranian Wrestling Federation’s official website that he was forced from his position due to his opposition to the Islamic Republic’s policy over Israeli opponents.
(jta.org)
Saudi Arabia, Egypt set up $10B fund for planned mega-city in Sinai
Saudi Arabia and Egypt announced on Sunday (4th) that they have set up a $10 billion joint fund to develop a planned mega-city in the southern Sinai Peninsula, with Egypt committing more than 386 square miles of land to the project.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman first announced plans for the 10,230 square mile zone at an international investment conference in Riyadh last October. Officials said public and private investment in the area is expected to total $500 billion.
The city will be called “Neom” meaning “new future.”
The mega-city is being billed as the world’s most ambitious project and is intended to become a transnational city and economic zone. Prince Mohammed’s stated objective for the project is to wean Saudi Arabia, the world’s top crude exporter, off of oil revenues.
(israelhayom.com)
