GPL M/ EAST UPDATES FROM . OCT 27 NO …140

LIVNI WILL CHOOSE ELECTIONS : by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
Would-be Prime Minister Tzipi Livni announced Saturday night October 25, she would tell President Shimon Peres early Sunday morning she is throwing in the towel on trying to form a new government coalition and will opt for new elections. Her decision followed a demand by Shas chairman and Cabinet minister Eli Yishai, that she state whether she would agree to allow the Palestinian Authority to take over large areas of eastern Jerusalem and possible declare it as its capital. The precise timetable for possible elections is still somewhat unclear, but if President Shimon Peres does not ask Sha’ul Mofaz to try to form a new government, elections are expected in mid-February.

HAMAS DEMANDS RELEASE OF NOTORIOUS KILLERS : by Maayana Miskin
Hamas is demanding the release of approximately 1,500 terrorists in exchange for kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit. Many of those 1,500 criminals have “blood on their hands,” meaning they took part in attacks in which Israelis were murdered. Channel 2 News examined the crimes committed by five of the terrorists on Hamas’ list on Saturday night

U.S. MILITARY OFFICIAL CONFIRMS U.S. HELICOPTER RAID ON SYRIAN SOIL :
The attack, which was not confirmed by the US military, was the first-ever reported American strike on Syria, which called it a “serious aggression.” Israeli defense officials said the incident was not connected to Israel and that the American troops had been chasing global jihad suspects in Iraq. The helicopters then crossed into Syria in pursuit of the terrorists. The area bombed on Sunday October 26, is near the Iraqi border city of Qaim, which had been a major crossing point for gunmen, weapons and money coming into Iraq to fuel the Sunni insurgency.

LIVNI’S DECISION ‘ KILLS PEACE PROCESS ‘
Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni’s call for early elections reflects the failure of the peace process. “Now the Israelis will use the elections as an excuse not to make any concessions to Mahmoud Abbas,” Abu Zuhri said. “They will claim that they are too busy with the elections over the next few months.” “If Netanyahu becomes the next prime minister, we will have to declare the peace process dead,” he said. “Netanyahu will be a disaster for both Jews and Arabs.”

ISRAEL HEADING TOWARD ELECTIONS : - Ronen Medzini (Ynet News)
Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni informed President Shimon Peres on Sunday October 26, that she has failed in negotiating the formation of a new government, and the president will most likely call for general elections. “The nation will choose its leaders,” Livni said. Legally, the earliest an election can happen is Jan. 27, 2009, but most Israelis expect elections are more likely in February or even early March. In the meantime, the sitting prime minister, Ehud Olmert, will continue in his role, even though he submitted his resignation more than a month ago.

REPORT : IRAN NUKES TOO DEEP TO HIT : - Mark Hosenball (Newsweek)
Western intelligence experts believe that Iran’s nuclear facilities are so deep underground that it would be difficult for Israel to wipe them out, or even significantly damage them, with a quick airstrike. In order to deal a serious setback to Iran’s nuclear program, at least four key sites inside Iran would have to be hit, said one Western official. The facilities are located in tunnels fortified by barriers more than 60 feet thick. According to U.S. experts, Israel does not possess conventional weapons capable of knocking out the facilities, which would require, at minimum, several bunker-buster bombs striking precisely the same spot.

PA FORBIDS ARAB RESIDENTS FROM VOTING IN UPCOMING MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS: - Khaled Abu Toameh (Jerusalem Post)
The Palestinian Authority’s chief Islamic judge, Sheikh Tayseer Tamimi, published a fatwa on Saturday October 25, banning Arab residents of Jerusalem from participating in the upcoming municipal election. Fatah legislator Hatem Abdel Kader explained, “Participation in the municipal election will be interpreted as recognition of Israel’s sovereignty over the Arab part of Jerusalem.”

HAMAS DECLARES CYBER-WAR ON ISRAEL : - Ramin Mostaghim (Los Angeles Times)
The Tehran office of a Palestinian political group has announced it is offering cash prizes for any computer whiz who hacks into a “Zionist” website, Tabnak, a Farsi-language news website, reported.
A group of Israeli hackers recently boasted of breaking into a Hamas website and uploading the Israeli national anthem onto it.

U.S TAKES TO THE AIR TO HIT ISLAMIC MILITANTS INSIDE PAKISTAN: - Mark Mazzetti and Eric Schmitt
The White House is intensifying a campaign of airstrikes by the Central Intelligence Agency against militants in the Pakistani mountains. According to American and Pakistani officials, attacks by remotely piloted Predator aircraft have increased sharply in frequency and scope in the past three months. (New York Times)

U.S. TO OPEN ‘INTERESTS SECTION’ IN IRAN : - Warren P. Strobel
The Bush administration will announce in mid-November, after the presidential election, that it intends to establish the first U.S. diplomatic presence in Iran since the 1979-81 hostage crisis, according to senior administration officials. The proposal for an “interests section,” which falls short of a full Embassy.

IRANIAN OFFICIAL RECOMMENDS THAT IRAN TARGET LONDON;
In an Oct. 18, 2008, article on the Iranian website Aftab, Wahid Karimi, director of the Europe and U.S. department in Iran’s Foreign Ministry, recommends that Iran mark London as a target, since it is the capital of the country that is the U.S.’s closest ally in Europe. “The most appropriate means of deterrence that Iran has, in addition to a retaliatory operation in the [Gulf] region, is to take action against London.” (MEMRI)

IDF FOILED KIDNAP BID BY HAMAS INFILTRATOR FROM GAZA : - Yuval Azoulay
Israeli authorities five weeks ago arrested a Hamas operative who infiltrated Israel from Gaza in a bid to kidnap Israel Defense Forces soldiers. . Jemal abu Duabah, a resident of the Gaza town of Rafah, was arrested after he illegally entered Israel from Sinai. An investigation revealed that the would-be kidnapper crossed into Sinai from Gaza via a tunnel. During his stay in Sinai, he made his final arrangements for the abduction of the troops, whom he planned to smuggle back into Gaza to use as bargaining chips for Palestinian prisoners held in Israel. During his interrogation, Abu Duabah stressed that senior officials in Hamas’ military wing trained him in Gaza. He said they also funded the training of the cell which was meant to assist him in planning and carrying out the kidnapping. (Ha’aretz)

ENERGY AS AN ELEMENT OF ISRAEL’S NATIONAL SECURITY : Binyamin Ben-Eliezer
Israel is in contact with the government of Turkey regarding the construction of an infrastructure corridor called the Med Stream, which is planned to contain three pipelines. One is for crude oil, meaning that what arrives through the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline or the Samsun-Ceyhan pipeline will continue on to Israel. The second pipeline will be for natural gas. The third pipeline could be used for water, electricity, or even fiber optic communications

PERES OFFICIALLY DECLARES EARLY ELECTIONS :
Israeli President Shimon Peres made it official late Monday afternoon October 27, telling the Knesset at the opening of the winter session that the nation is now headed for new elections within 90 days. He made the formal announcement after consulting with various faction heads and determining that no one could form a new coalition government out of the current Knesset membership, once Kadima chairwoman Tzipi Livni had exhausted her chance. February 17 is being touted as the most likely date for new elections. Ehud Olmert will continue to serve as prime minister of a caretaker government until the new Knesset is elected.

IRAN : ‘WE GIVE WEAPONS TO THE LIBERATION ARMIES’ IN THE MIDDLE EAST :
According to a state-run Iranian news agency, Gen. Hossein Hamedani, a senior Revolutionary Guards commander, has affirmed that Iran is arming Middle East “liberation armies.” It is apparently Iran’s first confirmation of supplying weapons to militant regimes in the region. Hamedani did not give further information.

IRAN CONFIRMS AHMADINEJAD HAS FALLEN ILL :
Iranian state media on Sunday October 26, confirmed reports that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is indeed sick. Parliament member Mohammad Ismail Kowsari, a close ally of the president, was quick to down play the news, saying that the illness was due to the strain of the position. He went on to say, “The president will eventually heal and continue his job.”

DAMASCUS DEMANDS U.N. PUNISH U.S. FOR RAID ON SYRIAN SOIL :
Syria continued on Tuesday October 28 to protest the US airborne assault on an al-Qaida terror cell on its territory over the weekend, with Damascus closing an American school and cultural center in the capital and demanding that the UN Security Council prevent any further US attacks on its soil. Despite Syrian denials, US officials continue to insist that the helicopter raid on a house several miles inside Syria killed a top al-Qaida commander who was carrying out attacks in Iraq.

SOURCES : SARKOZY TABS OBAMA POSITION ON IRAN AS ‘UTTERLY IMMATURE” :
Israeli government sources say they have received reports indicating French President Nicolas Sarkozy is very skeptical of US presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama’s stances on Iran. The reports suggest Sarkozy has privately criticized Obama and sees his position on Iran as “utterly immature” and based on “formulations empty of all content.”

OBAMA ASSASSINATION PLOT THWARTED :
According to court records unsealed on Monday October 27, US authorities recently arrested two young neo-Nazi skinheads in Tennessee who were plotting to go on a bizarre killing spree that they hoped would culminate with the shooting of Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama.

ALIYAH FROM SOUTH AFRICA DOUBLES : by Gil Ronen
After leveling off for several years, Jewish emigration from South Africa is on the rise. According to JTA, while no exact figures are available, the Israel Center at the South African Zionist Federation predicts the total number of olim (immigrants) from South Africa, which reached 178 in 2007,will double or even triple in 2008, possibly reaching 450 or more.

P.A. IN HEBRON…TALKS SCRAPPED : by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
The Palestinian Authority government on the Sabbath, October 26, entered Hevron with 550 special armed forces, which are being described as “policemen,” in a further step to extend its control in Judea and Samaria. At the same time, PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas called off all talks with outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Monday October 27 .

OFFICIALS EXPECT RECORD TOURISM : by Nissan Ratzlav-Katz
Based on analysis of statistics from the first nine months of 2008, Tourism Ministry officials say Israel can expect to reach an eight-year record for tourism to the country. The number of visitors to Israel between January and September exceeded the number of tourists who visited Israel during the entire year of 2007

FATAH AND HAMAS TOGETHER AGAIN ? : by Maayana Miskin
Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas announced Monday October 27, that the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) has accepted an Egyptian proposal for unity Fatah-Hamas leadership of the PA. Hamas has accepted the proposal as well. Israeli leaders have threatened to discontinue negotiations with the PA if Fatah and Hamas reunite. While Fatah officially supports peace talks with Israel, Hamas refuses to recognize Israel, referring to it instead as “the Zionist entity,” and continues to call for the country’s destruction. Hamas also publicly encourages the murder of Jews in Israel and around the world.

IRAN OPENS NAVAL BASE NEAR ROUTES FOR GULF OIL : Nazila Fathi (New York Times)
Iran announced Tuesday that it had opened a naval base in the port of Jask in the Gulf of Oman, which is the gateway to the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf, vital transit routes for the region’s vast oil supplies. Iranian naval commander Adm. Habibollah Sayyari said, “We are capable of preventing the entry of any enemy naval forces into the strategic Persian Gulf.”

ECONOMIC SLOWDOWN REVERBERATES IN MIDDLE EAST - Michael Slackman (New York Times)
As the energy-rich nations of the Persian Gulf find themselves pulled into the global financial crisis and undermined by dropping oil prices, the slowdown is affecting places like Egypt, Jordan and Syria, where gulf money has helped prop up strained economies.

HAMAS CLERIC : ANNIHILATION OF JEWS IS THE MOST SPLENDID BLESSING :
Palestinian cleric Muhsen Abu ‘Ita told Al-Aqsa TV on July 13, 2008: “The annihilation of the Jews here in Palestine is one of the most splendid blessings for Palestine. This will be followed by a greater blessing, Allah be praised, with the establishment of a Caliphate.” (MEMRI (Ed note. Haman of Persia thought the same but he and his 10 sons was hanged on the gallows he prepared for the Jew Mordecai)

HAMAS CEMENTS WAR TUNNELS : by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
The de facto Hamas government in Gaza is exploiting Israel’s allowing shipments of cement, to build underground tunnels, ammunition bunkers and command centers. Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilnai is thinking about reducing the amounts of cement, which began to flow through Gaza crossings in July. The government allowed cement to cross into Gaza after Hamas reduced the number of rocket attacks on Israel.

POLLS SHOW LIKUD REGAINING THE LEAD : by Hillel Fendel
Public opinion surveys released Thursday morning October 30,, show that the Likud Party has regained its lead over Kadima, and that Labor is losing popularity. A poll taken by Shvakim Panorama for Voice of Israel Radio’s Second Channel shows a total reversal of the trend of a few days ago. Instead of Kadima leading by 1-3 seats, as seen immediately after Tzipi Livni decided on new elections, the Likud is now shown to be leading by 3 Knesset mandates.

IRAN MASKED NUKE TEST AS A QUAKE : by Hillel Fendel
A weekend 5.0 Richter earthquake in Iran was actually a nuclear bomb test, says an Iranian nuclear scientist claiming to be working on the project. This past Saturday night October 25, southern Iran experienced what was reported as a significant earthquake - a seismic event measuring 5.0 on the Richter scale. Its epicenter was just north of the strategic Straits of Hormuz, which separates Iran from Abu Dhabi and Oman and which is the gateway to the Persian Gulf. The report quotes an Iranian nuclear scientist who claims to be working in uranium enrichment for the project, and who said that the “quake” was acutally an undergound nuclear bomb test.

A HAPPY ENDING TO A KIDNAPPING TALE : by Hana Levi Julian
An Israeli businessman managed to escape his African kidnappers in Ghana late Wednesday night October 29, after being held hostage for at least a week. He was reported unharmed.

P.A’S RUSTY WHEELS OF JUSTICE : by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
The judicial system in the Palestinian Authority leaves criminal suspects languishing in jails for an average of 14 years before courts rule on charges against them, according to a new European Union (EU) study. Some suspects literally spent a life term in prison without even going to trial. Ninety percent of suspected criminals are still waiting for trial dates despite last year’s international pledges of billions of dollars in aid, much of which was supposed to go towards reforming the judicial and police system.

KASSAM ATTACK, NO INJURIES : by Hana Levi Julian
The wail of the Color Red incoming rocket attack alert system shattered the early morning calm in the western Negev Thursday morning Oct0ber 30, as Gaza terrorists again broke the ceasefire with Israel. A rocket fired from northern Gaza slammed into the field of a kibbutz located near the city of Sderot at 7:47 a.m., while children were walking to school and their parents were on their way to work. People raced for cover in an echo of “the old days.” No one was injured and no damage was reported.

MK : ‘MUBARAK CAN JUMP IN THE LAKE’ : by Maayana Miskin
MK Avigdor Lieberman said Wednesday October 29, that Israel should insist that Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak pay an official state visit to the Jewish homeland. Israeli leaders have traveled to see Mubarak in Egypt dozens of times, while Mubarak has never once returned the gesture, he said. “He wants to talk to us? He can come here. If he doesn’t want to come here, he can go jump in a lake [lit. “go to the winds”–ed,” Lieberman said. Shortly after Lieberman’s speech, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and President Shimon Peres rushed to apologize to Mubarak for his remarks.

‘CRY-BABY SYRIA :
After sponsoring terrorism against three of its neighbours, Syria plays the victim when its own border is breached. This from a regime whose notable activities of the past few years have been the serial assassination of senior Lebanese politicians, the continuous and illegal supplying of weapons to the Hizbullah militia, the harbouring in Damascus of senior leaders of Hamas and other Palestinian terrorist groups, and….the sheltering of an al-Qaeda network that dispatches 90 % of the foreign fighters who wage war against U.S. troops and the Iraqi government. (Washington Post editorial )

ISRAELI AMERICANS VOTE FOR McCAIN :
Absentee-voting by Americans in Israel show that McCain is enjoying a 3 to 1 majority

ISRAEL RECEIVES INVITATION TO SECOND SAUDI INTERFAITH CONFERENCE :
Saudi King Abdullah invited Israel to participate in an interfaith conference at UN headquarters in New York on November 12. The summit will be the second such meeting called by King Abdullah, but the first time an invite was officially extended to Israel, which is not recognized by the Saudi kingdom. On Saturday October 25, King Abdullah, whose country bans non-Muslims from openly practicing their religion, called for religious tolerance, saying, “Nothing can purify (Islam’s reputation) except for the extension of Muslims’ hands to their brothers in other religions,” reported Ynetnews.

HAMAS MILITARY UNIFORMS NABBED ON THE WAY INTO GAZA :
IDF troops at the Kerem Shalom crossing into Gaza discovered military uniforms on Monday October 27,that Hamas planned to wear while carrying out terror attacks. The uniforms were found hidden in a humanitarian aid truck that had been authorized to deliver its shipment to Gaza from the IDF’s Gaza Coordination and Liaison Administration. Military coats, hats, and sweaters were also found in the truck by the personnel at the crossing.

HAMAS-FATAH NATIONAL RECONCILIATION CONFERENCE ANNOUNCED :
Palestinians take another stab at ending ‘divided house’ Palestinian business leader Muhammad Shtayyeh announced on Tuesday October 28, that Fatah and Hamas could begin the reconciliation process as early as November 9, at the Egyptian-hosted national reconciliation session which will be held in Cairo. Hamas hopes that the re-union will place them in them in the West Bank making the defeat of Israel , in their minds, a distinct possibility.

MKs SEEK TO BLOCK OLMERT FROM RESUMING TALKS WITH SYRIA :
Several Knesset members on Friday October 31 sought to block caretaker prime minister Ehud Olmert from conducting a fifth round of indirect talks with Syria under Turkish mediation, arguing the outgoing leader had no legal or moral right to make binding decisions on Israel. Likud MKs asked Attorney-General Menahem Mazuz today to examine whether Olmert has the authority to resume peace talks with Syria while he only heads a transitional government.

U.S. SECURITY ENVOY WON’T ISSUE REPORT ON PALESTINIAN STATE :
Signals Bush team winding up Mideast peacemaking efforts In a sign that the Bush Administration is folding up efforts at peacemaking between Israel and the Palestinians in its waning days, US Middle East security coordinator Gen. James L. Jones will publish some notes but not a long-awaited full report spelling out Israel’s security needs after the creation of a Palestinian state.