Israel Preparing for war: military leaves cancelled, helicopter traffic surging

A U.S. intelligence source has told G2Bulletin there are more indicators Israel is preparing to launch an attack – possibly against Iran. And if it does, it may be looking at how to undertake a multi-front strategy that would include an assault against Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in the Gaza Strip or even Syria, according to a report fromJoseph Farah's G2 Bulletin.

Separate sources suggest that Syria would welcome such an attack to divert attention from its own internal violent demonstrations against the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

The latest indications and warnings, or I&W, come two weeks following G2Bulletin's initial report that the Pentagon was watching for a long-anticipated Israeli attack on Iran's nuclear sites.

That came after revelations of an alleged Iranian plot to kill the Saudi Arabian ambassador to the United States. At that time, a U.S. intelligence source who monitors Israeli I&W said the U.S. was watching "an indicator and warning matrix" in which the U.S. can "go so far as to plot the illumination tables to pick out what nights would be best" for such an attack.


He said that U.S. analysts were concerned that an attack could be "imminent." The intelligence source said there was a "green light" for the Israelis "to do a strike," although it wasn't clear whether that green light is coming from within the Israeli political and military command structure, or from the U.S. government.

The source now reports further I&W to include unusual helicopter traffic at one of the Israeli training bases.

The source reports that the traffic involves some 20 utility helicopters and three attack helicopters.


World Net Daily

UPDATE:

The following video is - what seems to be - a pro-Iranian depiction of what an Israel-Iran confrontation may look like (Israeli children running for cover is real footage of the neighborhoods bordering Gaza).  


Try putting yourselves in the position of the Israelis who live with the constant threat of missiles raining on their city. 

The images are very upsetting - to say the least.

Germany Threatens To Cancel Shipment Of Dolphin Submarine To Israel

 

The German government has threatened to halt delivery of a Dolphin submarine to Israel in protest of its settlements policy, a German newspaper has confirmed. 

In a report published Sunday, German officials confirmed to Der Spiegel magazine that the government of Chancellor Angela Merkel is making the threat to protest the recent Israeli government-approved construction of 1,100 apartments in the Gilo neighborhood of eastern Jerusalem.

Israel already has three Dolphin-class submarines, which are nuclear capable, with two more under construction in Kiel, in northern Germany. Last summer, Germany approved a $189 million discount for the purchase of a sixth submarine, which costs about $1 billion.

The first two submarines were paid for by the German government, and the following three were heavily subsidized, according to Der Spiegel. The newspaper has reported, based on a WikiLeaks cable, that the submarine subsidies were a response to Israeli demands for Holocaust reparations from Germany.

The submarine's capabilities:

Combat systems

The weapon control system is the ISUS 90-1 TCS supplied by STN Atlas Elektronik, which provides automatic sensor management, fire and weapon control, navigation and operation.

Weapons

The submarine has the capacity to carry up to 16 surface-to-surface missiles or torpedoes. The surface-to-surface missile is the submarine-launched Harpoon, which delivers a 227kg warhead to a range of 130km at high subsonic speed.

The submarine has ten bow torpedo tubes. Four of the tubes have a 650mm diameter that could provide the capability to launch swimmer delivery vehicles (SDVs). With liners the tubes could be used for torpedoes. Six tubes of 533mm diameter for launching DM2A3 torpedoes were supplied by Atlas Elektronik.

The torpedoes use wire-guided active homing to deliver a 260kg warhead at a maximum speed of 35kt to a target range of over 13km. Using passive homing and speed of 22kt, the torpedo has a range up to 28km.

The submarine can also be armed with mines. A wet and dry compartment is installed for deploying underwater swimmers.

"The submarine has the capacity to carry up to 16 surface-to-surface missiles or torpedoes."

Countermeasures

The submarine's radar warning receiver is the 4CH(V)2 Timnex electronic support measures system developed by Elbit in Haifa. The Timnex receives, identifies, displays and records the radar signal parameters. The system operates over 2GHz to 18GHz frequency bands and the processor operates at rates up to one million pulses a second.

Sensors

The Dolphin Class submarines are equipped with an Elta surface search radar operating at I band. The sonar suite includes the CSU 90 hull-mounted passive and active search and attack radar supplied by Atlas Elektronik. The PRS-3 passive ranging sonar is also supplied by Atlas Elektronik. The flank array sonar providing passive search is the type FAS-3.

The submarine has two periscopes supplied by Kollmorgen.

Propulsion

The submarine is powered by three 16V 396 SE 84 diesel engines developing 3.12MW sustained power and supplied by MTU (Motoren und Turbinen Union) Munchen GmbH, based in Munich. The submarine is equipped with three 750kW alternators, and a 2.85MW sustained power motor supplied by Siemens. The machinery drives a single shaft.

The propulsion system provides a speed of 20kt dived and a snorting speed of 11kt. The range of the submarine is 8,000 miles at a surface speed of 8kt and over 400 miles at an economical speed of 8kt dived. The hull is rated for a diving depth of 350m. The endurance of the submarine is 30 days.

JTA / naval technology

"Israel Leads In Medical Marijuana"

Emmy Award-winning television personality and patient activist Montel Williams said Sunday he was impressed with Israel's liberal attitude toward medical marijuana, and he believes the U.S. could learn a thing or two from the Jewish state.

Williams was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1999 and he has since been an outspoken advocate of medical marijuana to relieve pain caused by the disease.

The former host of the popular long-running talk show "The Montel Williams Show" is in Israel on a fact-finding mission to learn about its medicinal cannabis practices. He is meeting with legislators, scientists and physicians.

At the height of his TV career, Williams was one of the most recognizable faces in America alongside fellow daytime TV hosts Oprah Winfrey, Phil Donahue and Geraldo Rivera.

"We need to get out of the dark ages and into the new ages," he told The Associated Press. "Not every patient can use cannabis, but for those who can — why deny it?"

In Israel, certain doctors can approve cannabis prescriptions and disperse them to patients, said Itay Goor-Aryeh, the head of the pain management unit at the Sheba Medical Center in central Israel.

He said that while marijuana use is strictly regulated, many doctors prefer prescribing it to patients who qualify because it is "the lesser of evils."

"Those patients, if they do not get cannabis, they will get morphine-like drugs and other harmful drugs," said Goor-Aryeh. "I think that in many ways, cannabis is tolerated and is less addictive that morphine-based drugs."

AP

Israeli Drones Over Lebanon

Ten Israeli unmanned aerial vehicles and two warplanes violated Lebanon’s airspace in six days conducting aerial maneuvers and reconnaissance over different parts of the country.

In several communiqués, the Lebanese Army said that the violations of Lebanese airspace took place from Oct. 23 to Oct. 29.

On Oct. 24 three drones flew over Baalbek, Shekka and south Lebanon.

The following day, Tuesday, the army said one drone conducted aerial maneuvers over the capital, its suburbs and south Lebanon.

On Oct. 27 two UAVs flew over Baalbek, West Bekaa and south Lebanon.

The two Israeli warplanes conducted their maneuvers over various areas of the country on Oct. 26.

Daily Star

Ashkelon Mayor: New Missiles Fired From Gaza Deadlier

Israeli vehicles in flames after rocket attack

The mayor of Ashkelon stated that in the past, the missiles' shrapnel would "tickle" metal gates; yesterday the shrapnel destroyed metal completely. 

the article is in Hebrew.



On Saturday, 35 projectiles, including Grads and mortar shells, were fired at southern communities, hitting built-up areas in Ashdod, Ashkelon and regional councils across the region. A number of the rockets caused extensive damages to buildings.

The IDF struck a rocket-launching cell in Rafah, in the southern Strip, following the upsurge in attacks, reportedly killing two terrorists.

“Hamas is responsible for what takes place in Gaza,” the army said.

Ashdod bore the brunt of the attacks, and was targeted by at least three Grad rockets. One slammed into an empty school, and a second struck in the nearby Gan Yavne Regional Council, moderately wounding a man who was searching for his son.

TV footage showed bloodstained pavement where the man had been injured before running indoors and contacting paramedics.

A third rocket slammed into a parking lot between two multi-story residential buildings in Ashdod. It set several vehicles on fire and left behind extensive wreckage. The flames were doused by Israel Fire and Rescue crews, who also broke into homes in nearby buildings to rescue residents.

“This was a miracle, it could have been much worse,” Magen David Adom director-general Eli Bin said.

“Ashdod is under attack, without a doubt,” Mayor Yehiel Lari said.


Jpost

Israel Peeing Against The Wind

Israel loading Turkey-bound planes.

Israeli aid sent to Turkey in wake of a massive earthquake that struck the country will not alleviate tense ties between the two countries, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu indicated on Thursday.

I

On Tuesday, Turkey accepted aid from Israel for the first time since the 7.2 earthquake struck the country's east, after rejecting several offers by top Israeli officials.

...

However, speaking to Turkey's Today's Zaman newspaper on Thursday, the Turkish FM indicated that Ankara's acceptance of Israeli aid did not signal an improvement in diplomatic ties, saying it would not change its “principled position.”

Speaking with his Jordanian counterpart, Davutoğlu was quoted by Today's Zaman as saying that “political conditions remain,” referring to Turkey's demand that Israel formally apologize for the 2010 raid, and that Israel lift its blockade of the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.

The structures Israel has sent Turkey are meant to provide refuge to survivors who lost their homes in the natural disaster, with Jerusalem planning to send additional temporary structures in the coming days. Turkey, however, has refused to accept Israeli assistance in rescuing victims from the wreckage.

HAARETZ

I guess Iran's assistance just isn't sufficient enough...

Defense minister orders aid be flown to Turkey after Turkish authorities request assistance from Israel; death toll from the 7.2-magnitude earthquake rise to 432 as rescue efforts continue.

Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Tuesday gave special instructions to relevant members of the defense establishment to fly special equipment to Turkey to aid in the country's rescue and recovery, following a deadly earthquake in the Van district on Monday.

According to a statement released by Barak, the decision to send the equipment to Turkey came after Turkish authorities requested assistance from Israel.

The statement did not specify what type of equipment was being sent.

...

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu called his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan on on Monday evening to personally offer assistance with the recovery efforts from the devastating earthquake that rocked Turkey on Sunday.

Netanyahu “expressed his condolences” to the earthquake victims and expressed Israel to offer help, if it was required, said an Israeli official.

Erdogan thanked Netanyahu for his concern and for the offer of support, said the official.








I guess primitive equipment just doesn't cut it.


Jpost

Israel's Diamond Exchange District To Be Replicated In China

Night view of Israel's Diamond Exchange District

ynet -The Chinese city of Shenyang plans to build a model of Ramat Gan's Diamond Exchange District.


 A delegation from the Shenyang visited its Israeli twin city recently, and decided to build a similar diamond exchange in China.


The Chinese delegation was welcomed by Ramat Gan Mayor Zvi Bar, Israel Diamond Exchange President Yair Sahar and CEO Yair Cohen.


This is great news for Israel's economy:


In the past few years China’s economy – the second largest in the world, with production exceeding $3 trillion – has experienced double-digit growth.


China is the fifth largest jewelry consumer in the world, and over 250 million diamond jewelry pieces are sold there annually. If this trend continues, the Chinese market is set to replace the US market as the largest global diamond market.

Turkey Refuses Israeli Aid Even Though They Have "primitive equipment"

I couldn't understand why Turkey would refuse aid from experienced Israel, yet agree to accept aid from ill-prepared countries like Iran. IsraelMatzav has a great explanation why.  

Search-and-rescue personnel working in the Van earthquake zone have decried their “primitive” working conditions and lack of technical equipment as they try and reach survivors from the eastern province’s devastating temblor.

"We are working with primitive tools, we have no equipment," one rescuer told the Hürriyet Daily News.

Emergency personnel said they heard cries for help coming from under a collapsed building this morning and started to work on the wreckage to reach the survivors. The cries had stopped at around noon, they said, adding that they had to dig out the dead bodies of quake victims.

"We can't get to survivors fast enough," one rescue team member said.

The spirit among rescuers is noticeably low, and some members could only weep in frustration at the situation.

There is a device to find people under rubble, rescuers said, but added that they only had one of the devices in the district of Erciş, which was worst hit by the Oct. 23 quake.

"We yell into collapsed buildings, asking if anybody is there," a rescue team member said.

Aid inadequate

Only one food distribution point was set up in Erciş and there was a significant lack of supplies and equipment. No new aid truck or supplies arrived for the hours that the Hürriyet Daily News was in Erciş.

Banks, hospitals and stores were all damaged or destroyed in the quake but there have been no reports of looting as people have continued to walk around Erciş in shock.

Many survivors said the only thing they wanted was some bread.

All but one of the homes in the nearby Yedikonak village was flattened in the quake.

Hurriyet

Members of UK-Pakistan chamber to visit Israel in Jan

Syed Qamar Raza President UK Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry

 Members of UK Pakistan Chamber of Commerce & Industry (UKPCCI) are likely to visit Tel Aviv in January next year to explore trade opportunities, a copy of UKPCCI invitation showed on Monday. During their five-day visit, from January 25 to 29, 2012, the trade delegate will meet with British Embassy officials and the local Chamber of Commerce, said London Southside Chamber, the associate organiser of the visit. Traders will also get the opportunity to meet businessmen in Israel individually. Traders will see Jerusalem and other major areas of interest from history and tourism perspective. Some members of UKPCCI have expressed their wish to perform Friday prayers in Aqsa Mosque. 


read it all here

Gilad Shalit Returned to Israel

Israel and the Palestinians today began a controversial and lopsided prisoner swap in which Israel is releasing 1,027 Palestinians for a single Israel soldier who was captured in 2006.

Sgt. Gilad Shalit, the lone Israeli soldier, was taken across the border and into Egypt early Tuesday in an SUV filled with armed men who quickly returned to Gaza, an official told The Associated Press.

In first public comments on Egyptian TV, Shalit said that he is "very excited."

...

"I missed my family very much, I missed my friends , I want to be out, I want to tell people what it is I went through," he said. "I would like very much for the remaining Palestinian prisoners to be released if they will not turn back and fight Israel again. I hope this deal will help bring peace closer between Israel and the Palestinians and cooperation between the two sides."

Syria Claims to Have Seized Israeli-made Weapons

I wouldn't place my bets with the Syrian or Iranian news sources. But if their claim of Syrians using Israeli-made weaponry to kill Syrian soldiers is true, this is an interesting development.

The Syrian security forces have seized Israeli made weapons from armed groups responsible for the killing of hundreds of people across the country. 

was the Tavor one of the weapons seized?

The Syrian ambassador to the regional grouping of the Arab League (AL) made this announcement at an emergency meeting in the 22-member body's headquarters in the Egyptian capital of Cairo on Sunday. 

Youssef Ahmad said, "They are Israeli made automatic weapons. This is proven and we'll show it on TV channels," Syrian state television reported. 

“These are the weapons used by the armed opposition to kill the sons of our nation.” 

Ahmad complained that no Arab partner had acted to condemn neither such instances of Tel Aviv's contribution to domestic violence in Syria nor the killings of Syrian armed forces. 

...

The Syrian and Lebanese authorities have recurrently intercepted weapon shipments, while they were being smuggled into the country amid the unrest. 

The last of the consignments, which had been loaded onto two cars, consisted of rocket-propelled grenades, Kalashnikov rifles, pump-action shotguns, sniper rifles, pistols, and various types of ammunition. 

Tehran Times

Mossad and British Defence Officials Plotted to Topple Iran Regime

Adam Werritty, the self-styled adviser to former Defence Secretary Liam Fox, plotted with the Israeli intelligence service Mossad to topple Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, it has been claimed.

In February this year, Mr Werritty then arranged a dinner with Dr Fox, Britain's ambassador to Israel, Matthew Gould, and senior political figures – understood to include Israeli intelligence agents – during an Israeli security conference in Herzliya, during which sanctions against Iran were discussed.

Despite Mr Werritty having no official Ministry of Defence capacity, an Israeli source said there was "no question" that Mr Werritty was regarded as anyone other than Dr Fox's chief of staff who was able to fix meetings at the highest levels, and was seen as an "expert on Iran".

The Foreign Office declined last night to comment on any aspect of Mr Werritty's activities.

The plot could well have proved impossible, but Mr Werritty's activities are seen to fly in the face of the British Government's efforts to pursue a diplomatic solution, through the UN, to Iran's nuclear ambitions.

The new revelations will also fuel concern in the Foreign Office that the man - who had unrestricted access to one of the Cabinet's most important ministers - was at the same time trying to unseat the Iranian President as part of a "shadow foreign policy".


read it all here

Gilad Shalit's Coming Home.. Some Think Swap A Strategic Error

Hezbollah Wednesday praised as a victory for the resistance in Palestine a deal between Hamas and Israel to release over 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the captive Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.
“Once again, the resistance in Palestine achieved a great victory by forcing the arrogant Jewish regime to respond to its logic and demand,” Hezbollah said in a statement.

Both Israel and Gaza's Hamas confirmed Tuesday that an agreement was reached to release over 1,000 Palestinians in two stages, the first involving 450 to be swapped for Shalit, with the remaining 550 to be freed later.

“Executing this deal ... shows that the resistance in Lebanon and Palestine and other places in the Arab and Muslim world is effective in regaining land, freeing prisoners and preserving its freedom, dignity, and independence,” the statement added.

Hezbollah also urged Arab and Muslim people to embrace the resistance which it said had proved to be the “only means to regain rights, by freeing prisoners and land.”

“We, in Hezbollah, believe that such a victory forces the collapse of some people's illusion that negotiations and begging the international community or great powers could actually bring back any rights,” the statement added.

The Daily Star

Many, including IDF former Rabbi, think this was a foul deal for Israel:

Former IDF Chief Rabbi Brigadier General (Res.) Avichai Ronsky

The former IDF Chief Rabbi Brigadier General (Res.) Avichai Ronsky on Tuesday said that Israel should not have strived towards a prisoner swap that included freeing terrorists in exchange for Gilad Shalit. He believes the captive soldier should have been declared a dead soldier that cannot be reclaimed.


Speaking to Ynet, Ronsky claimed that the only right way to release Shalit was through military action and if that was impossible – to sadly accept the fact that the soldier would remain in Hamas captivity though he added it was "tough to say that".

Rabbi Ronsky explained his position: "You can't bring an entire country to its knees, that's just crazy. It's complete surrender."

...

As to the question of whether there would not be a huge blow to morale among the troops on the Israeli side when soldiers know that the IDF won't necessarily do everything to rescue them from captivity, Ronsky said: "Just the opposite. They don't want to be exchanged for terrorists; they want to be rescued through a military operation."

Ynet

Here is a Video of Gilad Shalit in Captivity Which Was Released by Hamas as Proof He's Alive:

Israel to Allow more Egyptian Soldiers into Sinai

 


Israel is allowing Egypt to deploy more armed forces in the Sinai desert, while at the same time telling its citizens to stay away.

The measures, announced Monday, reflect growing Israeli concern over potential attacks from Sinai. In August, militants infiltrated across the border and killed eight Israelis.

Israel withdrew from Sinai under its 1979 peace deal with Egypt. Under the accord, Sinai was mostly demilitarized, and only a few hundred Egyptian policemen were permitted there.

Since the fall of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in February, Israel has been allowing more Egyptian troops into Sinai to counter extremist Muslims, as well as Palestinian militants crossing from Gaza.

-yahoo!


Apparently, this is a result of the talks between Israel and Egypt:

 Ma'an News, Oct 9, 2011 - Israeli officials arrived in Cairo on Sunday to discuss security arrangements, Egypt's Al-Ahram newspaper said.

The delegation, which included a top defense official, came by private jet for talks on cooperation at the Israel-Egypt border and developments in Israeli-Palestinians relations, the report said.

The officials were not identified, as they did not pass through the terminal, the paper quoted Cairo airport officials saying.

Relations between Egypt and Israel frayed in recent months, after Israeli forces shot dead five Egyptian forces in the country's Sinai region while pursuing attackers who killed eight Israelis in the country's south in August

Israel Wants Peace - Friend Request Pending

Here is a nice video:

h/t Israel Matzav

Former US Senate and Pentagon Official: Israel Seeking to Provoke Hezbollah to Wage Attack

Maloof on Israel and Hezbollah

Israel Seeking to Provoke Hezbollah To Wage Attack
What justification is there for destroying the livelihood of innocent Palestinians by burning their olive trees or tearing down homes they’ve lived in for generations? The reason is, because they can do it as long as there is no armed resistance to it. And now they know they can get away with it judging from the mute response of the international community. Yet, the “Israelis” thrive off of paranoia. They need a near constant crisis to continue getting the billions of dollars every year from the United States and therefore need to create an enemy to justify that paranoia. While Hezbollah and Hamas refuse to recognize “Israel” as a country or a Jewish state, the “Israelis” equate that lack of recognition with these groups wanting to destroy “Israel.”
For that reason, the “Israelis” for more than a year have mounted a major provocation campaign to get either Hizballah or Hamas to attack them as a justification for launching attacks against them and seeking their destruction. Hezbollah has made it clear that it won’t attack Israel unless Lebanon is attacked. In an effort to force Hizballah’s hand, the “Israelis” set up Hizballah for the trumped up charge of being involved in the assassination of the late Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri and then manipulating evidence to make it appear that members of Hizballah committed the act. And the United States and the other western governments went along with it. Even “Israeli” President Shimon Peres has tried to provoke action against Hizballah by claiming that it was smuggling Scud ballistic missiles from Syria into Lebanon, which wasn’t true. To further any provocation, the “Israelis” will continue to drill in waters in the eastern Mediterranean which clearly belong to Lebanon, further settlement construction in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, bomb the Gaza Strip when it wants against virtually defenseless people or warn of continued terrorist attacks to be used as a basis to reoccupy the Sinai Peninsula where there are considerable oil and natural gas reserves that could make “Israel” energy independent indefinitely.

The territorial, economic and commercial motives are there, but the “Israelis” will drape themselves in the cloak of righteousness of always portraying themselves as the victim. It is tedious at best but dangerous at worst because the “Israelis’ are on a hair trigger to launch an attack. And the Western powers let them continue getting away with it. Perhaps for a change international sanctions need to be imposed on “Israel” until they halt these impediments to peace.

Maloof on whether US will attack Syria

I don’t see the United States engaging in an overt military campaign against the Syrian regime of President Bashar al-Assad. There are a number of geopolitical reasons for not doing that but there also is the question of having the resources to do so. In the West, there also is a serious question of what governance and stability the Syrian opposition could bring. In Afghanistan and Iraq, we have seen a succession of political and economic turmoil that followed U.S. action at these locations, and to what end? There also is another consideration: Russia now maintains major bases at the port cities of Tartous and Latakiyah which also can act as a deterrent against any overt attack against Syria.
With Vladimir Putin becoming president of Russia next year, the United States and indeed “Israel” will be reluctant to mount a military attack on Syria. At the same time, even Iran and the Russians are calling on al-Assad to launch reforms to stave off further internal turmoil in the country. While I don’t see an overt military effort for regime change in Syria, I think there will be covert undertakings by the West to support groups that will attempt to bring continued instability to Syria from constant demonstrations. This will then help generate an international outcry for action. It will be a western-orchestrated initiative, principally at the hands of the United States and Saudi Arabia, to oust al-Assad without any consideration of what would be put in its place.

Concern remains, for example, that the Saudis are instigating the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood to incite demonstrations and create turmoil leading to al-Assad’s ouster. As part of the covert campaign to undermine the Syrian regime internally, there will be efforts to target such people as scientists or even leaders, much the same way we’ve seen covert intelligence strikes by “Israel” and the United States against nuclear scientists in Iran. I believe it will be important for the countries of the region to outwardly reject western “help” and determine their own destiny. I believe that Turkey and Iran have seen the direction of where events in the Middle East are heading and want to undertake a constructive effort to reshape the future of the region. This will mean all countries involved will need to undertake the reforms that people so desperately need on the one hand while doing it with a minimum of Western interference. The West can help but not continue to control events for its own selfish purposes as it has been doing for generations in the region.

read the entire interview here

- Michael Maloof is a former US Senate and Pentagon official. He worked as correspondent between 1974 till 1982 for The Detroit News, U.S. News & World Report and The Union Leader (NH) respectively. - Maloof was awarded the Department of Defense Distinguished Civilian Service Award, December 1993, and the Secretary of Defense Meritorious Civilian Service Medal, August 1985. - He received his Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and minor in International Affairs, George Washington University, and the Associate of Arts Degree in International Affairs, Prince George's Community College.

S. Korea Threatening to Cancel All Israeli Purchases

The purchase of the Israel Air Force's new training plane is causing serious diplomatic tension between Israel and South Korea: Fearing that Israel has already decided on a rival plane made in Italy, the Koreans are now threatening in return to cancel all their deals for purchasing Israeli defense systems.

In recent years, the South Koreans have purchased an average of $280 million a year in such defense products.         

The decision on the IAF's new trainer is supposed to be made within a few months, toward the end of this year or early in 2012. The deal includes over 20 planes and is worth $1 billion spread over a few years. The air force is considering two planes, the Italian M346 trainer and the South Korean T-50 jet. The force held test flights for both planes earlier this year.

The decision is to be based on criteria set by the IAF, but not exclusively: It seems the final decision will also be influenced significantly by Israel's relations with both countries.
Here the Italians have a major advantage: Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is a staunch supporter of Israel and his relations with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are very close. In light of Israel's growing diplomatic isolation, the government sees great importance in preserving Israel's close relationship with Italy.

That is exactly what is worrying the South Koreans. Seoul fears that the competition for the new plane, which Israel has presented as a down-to-the-wire race, is actually a done deal that has already been decided in favor of the Italians.

FILE - Israel President Shimon Peres (L) talks with South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak (R) during their meeting at presidential house in Seoul, South Korea, 10 June 2010. EPA/

The matter was discussed this week at a relatively tense meeting between South Korea's ambassador to Israel and the director general of the Defense Ministry, Maj. Gen. (res. ) Udi Shani. Next week, the head of Korean defense procurement is expected to visit Israel to discuss the matter again. And now, the Koreans are threatening to cancel deals with Israeli defense industries.
         
In recent years, Korean purchases have increased greatly, including the Green Pine radar system manufactured by Elta and another radar system for combat planes. The Koreans have also shown interest in missile interception systems still under development, such as David's Sling, manufactured by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems.

The Defense Ministry said no decision has yet been made on the plane. "The ministry is examining both candidates to choose the best combat trainer for the air force," it added.

HA'ARETZ

Turkey, Israel, Greece and Russia mobilising over Cyprus gas

Block 12

Turkey and Greece in dispute over gas drillings

Turkey and Turkish Cyprus (which is not recognised internationally) have signed an agreement with regards to the continental shelf to define their maritime borders with the goal of joint gas and oil exploration. However, some of the areas included in the agreement fall within a region claimed by the (Greek) Republic of Cyprus, a European Union member.

Cypriot President Dimitri Christofias said last Saturday that drilling for oil and gas would continue, despite Turkish opposition. For the Cypriot leader, his nation’s right to search for potential mineral deposits inside its exclusive economic zone is non-negotiable and that any foreign meddling is unacceptable.


Greece and Israel improve relations

The situation has led to a major improvement in relations between Cyprus and Israel. President Christofias has already visited Israel, and his Israeli counterpart is set to visit the island nation shortly.

The two countries have also signed an agreement on delimiting their respective Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) and on co-operating in oil and gas exploration in Cyprus’ EEZ, which has been undertaken by Noble Energy in cooperation with the US State Department and the US Embassy in Nicosia.

Cyprus also intends to act as a natural mediator between Lebanon and Israel in their dispute over Leviathan.


Gas drillings near Cyprus an International issue

...gas discoveries in the eastern Mediterranean are raising tensions that go beyond the Turkish-Cypriot dispute.

In Cyprus, newspapers are reporting increased Turkish aerial activity around the island, with nighttime research and rescue training operations. At the same time, Israel is monitoring Turkish moves with unmanned drones circling the drilling area.
Both Greece and Russia have backed the Cypriot position on the natural gas issue. Moscow also wants some licences to develop some of the fields and is in favour of a cooperation agreement with Cyprus.

The Russian aircraft carrier ‘Admiral Kuznetsov’ is expected in the eastern Mediterranean region next month, carrying a large number of Russian fighters. A submarine is also on its way for “patrol purposes” as part of exercises with other countries in the area.

The arrival of the Russians coincides with the expected announcement by Noble of its initial drilling results.

Asia News

An Idiot Abroad: Why Israel? and Breslov Hassidim