Iran to cooperate with Syria to destroy the “Zionist enemy”
Iran’s Chief of Staff declared on Wednesday (18th) that he will cooperate with other countries in order to destroy the “Zionist enemy.”
“We arrived in Damascus in order to coordinate and cooperate to confront our common enemies: the Zionists and the terrorists,” Iranian General Mohammad Baqeri told Syria’s state television channel. He added that in his opinion, it is “not acceptable for the Zionist regime to violate Syria anytime it wants.”
Baqeri arrived in Syria on Tuesday (17th), accompanied by several other senior Iranian military figures.
On Monday (16th), Israeli Air Force planes responded to a Syrian attack on Israeli aircraft, destroying the surface-to-air missile battery which had attacked them.
(israelnn.com;reuters.com)
Bennett: “Iran can either have an economy or pursue nuclear weapons”
Education MInister Naftali Bennett educated listeners at the Christian Media Summit that took place in Jerusalem Wednesday (18th). He spoke about the relative threats emanating from North Korea and Iran, and offered his vision of how to neutralize the threat.
“North Korea has a certain nuclear arsenal, not huge, and North Korea’s not a very powerful nation. Iran is huge. And it’s based, by the way on a great amazing nation of Persians,” Bennett said. “If only the regime would walk away, we’d have an amazing relationship with an ancient nation. But these guys are strong.
“We have to force Iran into a very clear decision: Either you keep pursuing your nuclear plan, or you work for a viable economy. You can’t have both.”
(israelnn.com)
Russia agrees to keep Iran, Hizbullah forces away from Israeli border
Russian Minister of Defense Sergey Shoygu told Israel that Moscow is open to expanding the south Lebanon Security Belt on the Golan Heights border so Iranian and Hizbullah forces are moved farther away from Israel.
The Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper reported Israel asked to expand the belt from 3 miles to to just under 25 miles into Syrian territory, but Shoygu claimed this demand was exaggerated and unrealistic.
Shoygu added Iran and militias affiliated with it, have not come near the border since the Russians arrived there, but nevertheless agreed to deepen the belt’s territory by 6-10 miles.
(jpost.com; ynetnews.com)
Dermer: Israel and U.S. now aligned on Iran danger – Sara A. Carter
Israeli Ambassador to the U.S Ron Dermer said he supported President Trump’s strong stance against Iran’s support of terrorist proxies. “There are two parts to President Trump’s policy – first, fix the problems of the nuclear deal, but also start pushing back on Iran’s aggression and terrorism in the region and around the world,” said Dermer. “That’s why it is a comprehensive policy and we are fully supportive of it.”
As for U.S.-Israel relations, Dermer said, “We are now lined up on the single most important and strategic security issue facing Israel, which is Iran and the dangers it poses to our future.”
(circa.com)
The new bloc against Tehran – Abdulrahman Al-Rashed
Ever since Washington announced its decision against Iran’s government, Britain and Germany shifted their stance from insisting on remaining loyal to the commitments of the nuclear deal to announcing that they support Trump’s plan to confront Tehran’s regime in the Middle East. It is unreasonable to let the regime loose in the region and allow it to spread chaos, threaten other regimes and dominate Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Yemen.
The wheel will begin to turn again to pressure Tehran’s regime if it refuses to change its behavior and to suspend its militant activities in the region. Now that the political confrontation is back on, Tehran is faced with a new equation: stop wars or be sanctioned again.
(aawsat.com)
MK Hotovely: Despite the EU’s criticism, Israel has full right to build in its homeland
Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely responded Wednesday afternoon (18th) to the EU’s criticism of Israel’s issuing of building permits in Judea and Samaria.
“Despite the criticism of the European Union, Israel has full right to build in the Jewish homeland. The recent reconciliation between Mahmoud Abbas and the Hamas terror organization is what keeps peace away, and not construction in the settlements,” said Hotovely.
(israelnn.com)
Spillover from Syria narrowly misses Israel
In the midst of an operation near the Syria-Israeli border Wednesday (18th), a stray rocket nearly landed within Israel.
An alarm was sounded in several IDF outposts in the northern Golan heights.
The IDF Spokesperson’s Unit said the shooting was part of the Syrian Civil War and that no landing was identified within Israel’s borders.
(jpost.com)
Palestinian man running at soldiers with knife, shot
An Israeli soldier shot and wounded a Palestinian man who ran at him and other forces with a knife at the Gush Etzion junction.
The Palestinian, believed to be in his 20s, ran at soldiers stationed there and did not stop when called on to do so, Wednesday afternoon (18th).
One soldier feeling both he and his colleagues were in danger shot the assailant. He was taken to Hadassah Hospital Ein Kerem for treatment.
No Israelis were injured in the incident.
(jta.org; timesofisrael.com)
Israel elected to UN Space Committee
An Israeli representative was elected by the UN General Assembly Tuesday (17th) to its Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) as the candidate of the Western European and Others (WEOG) regional group.
Israel will be one of the six countries to head up the 84-member organization.
Israel’s Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon said, “We have proved once again that Israel can succeed in all roles as we spearhead positive new initiatives as an equal partner in the UN.”
(timesofisrael.com)
Anti-Balfour Declaration posters banned from London Underground – Ian Black
Advertisements highlighting Palestinian objections to the Balfour Declaration of 1917, when Britain promised to establish a Jewish national home in Palestine, have been blocked by Transport for London.
Theresa May and her Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu, are expected to be the guests of honor at a London dinner celebrating the centenary of the declaration, the most high-profile of several events.
Israeli officials say it is right to celebrate the centenary and have accused those demanding that Britain apologize for the declaration of being anti-Semitic and ignoring Palestinian hostility and intransigence.
(theguardian.com)
