The Israel Situation » Asia

More Flotilla Fallout – Global Updates

Eric — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 19:48:23 +0000

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The two sides of the issue are still being drawn, but Israel has gained a key supporter in the response to the Flotilla incident. Former United Kingdom Prime Minister and Middle East envoy Tony Blair has stood up and exclaimed Israel has a right to self defense. He said that he is “100% on [Israel’s] side.”

In a developing story, it seems that Iran is sending two ships to Gaza to follow the Flotilla. Like the ship that caused the violence, I suspect Iran would not send a ship unless it is accompanied by the military. Of course, they would be armed and ready to attack anyone that gets in their way. This could be the first direct confrontation with Iran, a country building nuclear weapons that it intends to use against Israel.

Russia has also made its side clear. Russia appears to have joined Turkey in an embargo of gas shipments to Israel. It is more important than ever that Israel become independent of potential enemies in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. While Russian Prime Minister Putin claims that it is unrelated to the Flotilla, the comments came in close proximity to a call for a UN probe against Israel. The results of which, of course, has already been decided.

Several cruise lines, including Princess Cruises and Azamara Club, have canceled stops in Israeli cities specifically because of the Flotilla incident. These ships can be quite large and the economic impact to the ports may be significant.

The world is watching, and now is as important of a time as ever to keep building allies and keep watch of enemies. Time will tell who the real victor is, if any, from the Flotilla. Thanks to a rapid response, much of which came from social networks and the blogosphere, Israel has been able to stay afloat despite the odds.

If you enjoyed this post, please take a look at what really happened at the Flotilla and how Israel responded.

More Flotilla Fallout – Global Updates is a post from: The Israel Situation

Israel and Turkey Move Past Differences on Defense

Eric — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 20:23:42 +0000

AP Photo

Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Turkish Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul met this weekend in Ankara, Turkey to discuss common defense goals. Barak gave an apology on behalf of Israel regarding the actions of Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister several weeks ago. Turkey’s President said that the apology was adequate and that Turkey would not pursue the matter any further.

Gonul spoke at a press conference and gave encouraging, though not enthusiastic, remarks toward Israel and Turkey’s mutual defensive strategy.

“We are strategic allies as long as our interests force us to do so,” said the minister, who is not a fluent English speaker. “We are living in the same area. Although we don’t have common borders, we have the same interests.”

Israel and Turkey have had mixed relations since the beginning of the first Arab Intifada. Turkey, a Muslim country with a secular, democratic government, still tends to favor the Palestinians and treats the Israelis with mixed support.

Israel and Turkey have cooperated on several defense contracts. In an upcoming deal, Israel will deliver unmanned drone aircraft intended to monitor Kurdish rebel activity in Southern Turkey and along the Iraq-Turkey border.

Israel and Turkey Move Past Differences on Defense is a post from: The Israel Situation

Israel to Enhance Chinese Ties

Eric — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 16:05:20 +0000

Knesset eforeign affairs committee chair Tzachi Hanegbi has made plans to visit China in a move to strengthen the relationship between Israel and the East Asian power.

“We look forward to being a friend of China, and establishing closer and more intimate relationship with China… At the request of the Chinese side, I will pay a visit to China next week and hold talks with Chinese officials over issues of mutual concern.”

Hanegbi visited China in 2006 on similar grounds. It is important for Israel to keep strong ties and build alliances with as many powerful countries as possible. The economic and nearly superpower strength China has developed over the last decade make them a powerful friend to any country.

China has rejected calls in the United Nations Security Counsel to place sanctions or embargoes on Iran for its nuclear program. Maybe a stronger Israel-China relationship will lead to that?

Read the whole story at China’s Xinhua.

Israel to Enhance Chinese Ties is a post from: The Israel Situation

IAEA Chooses New Director

Eric — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:15:00 +0000

IAEA Director Mohammed El-Baradei will step down in November. That is good news for Israel, as El-Baradei has done little to keep nuclear weapons out of Iran’s hands.

The 35 nations chose between Japanese Yukiya Amano and South African Abdul Samad Minty. South Africa was one of a very few countries in the world, alongside Libya, Indonesia, and a few others, that did not vote to reprimand Iran for nuclear activities. I can’t find a lot of detail on Minty, but the name Abdul Samad would generally be a Muslim, which would generally be anti-Israel.

Israel was silently happy to see that Amano was elected to head the international nuclear watchdog. Japan has been on Israel’s side in the Iranian nuclear crisis. Hopefully Amano will have the guts and drive to stand up to Ahmadinejad and shut down Iran’s nuclear program once and for all.

IAEA Chooses New Director is a post from: The Israel Situation

Azerbaijan foils Iranian Terrorist Plot

Eric — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 01:28:00 +0000

The government of Azerbaijan claims to have foiled a plot by Hezbollah and Iran to bomb the Israeli embassy in the Muslim secular democracy.

Azerbaijan is becoming increasingly important in the Middle East conflict. The bombing was to take place in capital city Baku. Anti-terrorism officials in the country claim to have raided a Hezbollah safe house. In doing so, they uncovered a revenge plot of the death of Imad Mughniyah, for which Hezbollah blames Israel.

Details were kept private until a closed door trial began today. Two Lebanese and two Azeri nationals are being tried for the plot.

The former Soviet republic shares a border with Iran, Russia, Georgia, and Turkey.

Azerbaijan foils Iranian Terrorist Plot is a post from: The Israel Situation

Israel Delivers AWACS Plane to India

Eric — Tue, 26 May 2009 14:21:00 +0000

Israel has delivered the first Airborne Warning and Control System plane to India as part of a $1.1 billion deal. Israel had negotiated a similar deal with China roughly 10 years ago, but that deal was blocked by the United States.

AWACS is a mobile air command center that allows for high tech radar systems to give pilots and ground military personnel up to date locations of enemy aircraft and missiles.

Due to new technologies, it is expected that India and Israel will continue to deal into the future to include newer aircraft with newer avionics technology.

Israel Delivers AWACS Plane to India is a post from: The Israel Situation

US and Israel Disagree on Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty

Eric — Wed, 06 May 2009 19:10:00 +0000

US Assistant Secretary of State Rose Gottemoeller publicly asked Israel, India, Pakistan, and North Korea to sign on and adhere to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). I see Israel signing on to the NPT as a huge possible disadvantage for current security threats.

If Israel joined in the NPT, and got rid of all nuclear weapons, the country would have little leverage in dealing with Iran. Once Iran builds the now seemingly inevitable nuclear weapon, Israel needs some sort of leverage to ward off an attack. Iran’s biggest reason for not attacking Israel would be the potential retaliation.

An Israeli official responded to Gottemoeller’s statement. He said that the NPT has had no effect on the countries that signed it. Why do people bother to continue discussions of the NPT if nations that sign the treaty go ahead and build nuclear bombs anyway?

While spell checking this post, I found what appears to be subliminal right wing Christian Republican propaganda in the very name of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation treaty! Lets break it down. Nuclear Non-proliferation treaty. That is pro-life-ration. PRO LIFE! Maybe I am just forming a conspiracy theory that is baseless. Maybe not…

US and Israel Disagree on Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty is a post from: The Israel Situation

I Am Worried About Pakistan

Eric — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 17:07:00 +0000

I recently wrote about the Taliban’s victory in Swat Valley in Pakistan. The Pakistani government has changed the legal system for the Swat region to Sharia, or Islamic, law. Sharia is a very strict legal system that addresses how Muslims and non-Muslims should live. This agreement was part of a truce between the radical Muslims in Pakistan and the government.

The Taliban has broken the truce and has begun moving closer to the Pakistani capital, Islamabad. After a very short period of peace, the Taliban is working just as hard to take over Pakistan, just as they did in neighboring Afghanistan.

What I don’t understand is why the Pakistani government gave the Taliban a small victory in the first place. The Quran allows lying if it is in the pursuit of spreading Islam. Religious Muslims, therefore, have no issue lying to their enemies.

Now the Taliban is moving closer to taking over one of the few nations in the world with nuclear weapons. The Taliban hates the West, particularly the United States and Israel. Once they take control of the government, what would stop these radicals from using a nuclear weapon against Israel or the United States? Nothing.

I am terrified about what is going on today in Pakistan. The United States government has no real policy in dealing with this nation at a tipping point. Israel is on the verge of threats from two nuclear powers, Iran and Pakistan. I hope someone does something before Israel is gone and millions of innocent people are dead.

I Am Worried About Pakistan is a post from: The Israel Situation

Pakistan Sets Dangerous Precident

Eric — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 18:42:00 +0000

The government of Pakistan has officially put a portion of the country under Sharia law. Sharia law, or Muslim religious law, is being adopted in the violent northwest Pakistan region. Swat Valley is the hub of Taliban activity in Pakistan and is in the new Sharia area.

This shows violent militants that their tactics work. If a nation incorporates Sharia into the national legal system, people will be punished violently for breaking laws that repress a person’s way of life.

I hope that non-extremists quickly leave the area for their own safety and security. Moderate Muslims often fall victim to the Taliban.

Pakistani lawmakers suggested the change after months of terrorism and violence from Taliban and al-Qaida terrorists. The Middle East is a changing place, and this change is not for the better for Israel or the people of Pakistan.

Pakistan Sets Dangerous Precident is a post from: The Israel Situation

The Last Jew in Afghanistan

Eric — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 04:41:00 +0000

This video from the New York Times made me very sad. The last Jew in Afghanistan is so lonely he only has flowers to love.

The Last Jew via NYT.

The Last Jew in Afghanistan is a post from: The Israel Situation

A Beautiful Analogy: Israel as the Bashert