1. More Katif Expellees Resettled
by Maayana Miskin

More than six years after the expulsion of Jews from Gaza, families from Netzarim, Atzmona and elsewhere are finally settling down in new homes. The homes are in the new towns of Naveh and Bnei Netzarim, both a short distance from Gaza.



Bnei Netzarim is now home to 96 families, while Naveh houses 80.



The towns remain unfinished; Bnei Netzarim is still waiting for day care centers, a mikvah (ritual pool), a synagogue and the town’s electricity infrastructure to be completed. However, the situation is a step in the right direction for families that have spent years living in makeshift “caravilla” homes that were meant to be used for no more than a few months.



Liora Toshinsky of the Tnufa Administration, which is tasked with resettling Katif families, extended her congratulations to the families. “These families join approximately 350 others that have moved into their permanent housing in towns. [Tnufa] continues to make every effort to move communities and families into permanent housing as quickly as possible,” she said.



The State of Israel has “a moral debt to pay” toward those still living in caravans or other temporary housing, she added.

In October, the administration celebrated the absorption of several dozen Katif families in Kibbutz Palmachim.



Many families expelled from Gaza have faced difficulty moving to permanent housing after being forced to use their compensation money to meet day-to-day expenses in the years after the expulsion. Others were able to save their money and build new homes in what the state has promised will be their new communities, but found themselves without water or electricity as bureaucracy slowed the construction of vital infrastructure.

Community leaders have warned that the remaining caravan sites are at grave risk in case of rocket attacks.




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2. Vote for the Dead Sea Now!
by Chana Ya'ar





Only two days are left to go before voting closes for the international New7Wonders of Nature competition – and only two days left to make sure that the Dead Sea is among the final top seven winners. The seven winning finalists are believed to need at least 300 to 400 million votes.

The Dead Sea is popular attraction for tourists from all over the world, not only for its low-UV sunlight and oxygen-rich air, but also for its healthful mineral-rich waters. The combination of the two are known to be useful as a remedy for psoriasis and other medical conditions.

“Winning this competition will improve Israel's tourism product and bring thousands of additional tourists into the country,” noted Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov in September.

“It will improve the economy and raise employment in the Dead Sea area and in Israel in general,” he added.

However, the water level in the Dead Sea has been dropping at an alarming rate of approximately 1.3 meters (four feet) per year, particularly at the northern end of the mineral-rich lake.

Ironically, the southern end has suffered from an increasing level of mineral salts, which push up the water level by some 20 centimeters (eight inches) annually due to manufacturing and mineral extraction by the Dead Sea Works factory.

Known as the lowest spot on the planet, the Dead Sea is also considered the world's largest natural spa, and one of Israel's national treasures. A joint submission to the competition by Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority, the Dead Sea shoreline is shared by all three and is a top finalist in the contest, which ends November 11, 2011.

Vote now!












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3. Iran's Nuclear Materials Move Underground
by Chana Ya'ar

Iran has begun to move its nuclear materials underground, further away from possible attack by Western powers, a new report by the United Nations has warned.

The UN International Atomic Energy Agency said in its report earlier this week that Iran began moving materials to an underground facility for the “pursuit of sensitive atomic activities.”

Last month Iranian nuclear scientists moved low-enriched uranium (LEU) in a “large cylinder” to the Fordow subterranean site. The information was included in the report, the IAEA's most detailed document yet.

The development further added to suspicions by Western intelligence agencies that Tehran is engaged in creating nuclear weapons of mass destruction – an activity that Israel has warned the world about for the past five years.

At least one prominent U.S.-based think tank has said that should Iran decide to enrich it further, it now has enough LEU to supply four nuclear weapons, and the international agency said in its report it had "serious concerns regarding possible military dimensions to Iran's nuclear program."

The main finding in the IAEA report, leaked Tuesday, provided further evidence of Iran's military intentions: the Islamic Republic appears to have been working on designing a nuclear warhead, and it was clear that its weapons-related research was likely to continue.

"After assessing carefully and critically the extensive information available to it, the agency finds the information to be, overall, credible," the report said. "This information indicates that Iran has carried out activities relevant to the development of a nuclear explosive device."

Iran has threatened to strike Israel, the U.S. and Europe if its nuclear facilities are attacked.

 

 

 




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4. PA Official Admits: Not Enough Support for Statehood Bid
by Elad Benari

The Palestinian Authority’s foreign minister admitted on Tuesday that the entity does not have enough support in the UN Security Council for recognition of a Palestinian state.

Foreign Minister Riad Malki told The Associated Press, “It is clear now, with the U.S. counter effort and intervention, that we are not going to have these nine votes.”

It was the first time since PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas submitted his statehood bid to the Security Council in September that a PA official has admitted that the move will fail.

Last week it was reported that France, Britain and Colombia all intend to abstain in the vote.

Diplomats were quoted as having said that due to this, “there is no way the Palestinians could get the nine votes they need to get it passed.” On Tuesday, AFP reported that Germany has not yet announced its stance but is expected to abstain or vote no. Portugal and Bosnia are expected to abstain as well.

Meanwhile, the sub-committee that was appointed to further examine the unilateral statehood bid has said that the Security Council is “deadlocked” on whether to accept or reject Palestine as a member of the United Nations.

According to a draft report of the key committee obtained Tuesday by AFP, “The committee was unable to make a unanimous recommendation to the Security Council.”

The draft report avoids saying which countries support or opposes the bid but notes that “differing views were expressed.”

The membership committee will meet on Friday, at which point it must decide what action to take on the PA’s demand.

Even if the PA achieves a majority in a vote in the Security Council, the decision will fall through in any case, since the United States has announced on several occasions that it would use its veto power in the Security Council to block the motion.






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5. Barak Pleads For More Time Amid Outpost Row
by Gavriel Queenann

Attorneys for the government filed a motion asking Israel's High Court to extend the deadline for them to file their position on the destruction of neighborhoods and communities in Judea and Samaria (Yesha).

The petition, filed on behalf Defense Minister Ehud Barak and the IDF commander in Yesha, said "the respondents need two more days in order to formulate their position."

The petition is the second request for an extension. Last Tuesday the High Court extended the deadline for the government to file its petition until November 8.

Barak's request for more time comes amid reportedly heated discussions between the Prime Minister's office, Defense Minister's bureau, and the office of the Attorney General.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has found himself at odds with an overwhelming majority of the lawmakers in his faction, who regard the destruction of threatened communities like Amona, Givat Assaf, Migron, and Beit El's Ulpana neighborhood as ideologically untenable.

Netanyahu has also been presented with a demand by six faction heads - representing a majority of lawmakers in the Knesset - that he find a way to normalize Jewish communities under threat of destruction rather than carrying out demolition orders.

The government's internal war over demolition orders comes in the wake of a controversial ruling by the High Court that all 'disputed' private land (not held by the State) in Judea and Samaria was 'Arab land.' by default.

The court - which maintains that demolition is the only option in the case of land 'disputes' - also did not review the authenticity of claims for land ownership, because the High Court does not deal with evidence, leading critics to charge the court had issued an ideological ruling under the guise of law.  

The land ownership issue was brought to a lower court, and the Arab claimants withdrew their case on Monday night before it could be heard, indicating that their proofs were not convincing. 

Initially, Netanyahu sought to form a committee that would review evidence of private Jewish land ownership in order to normalize the threatened communities, but Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein insisted the committee could not review cases on which the court had already issued a ruling.

Netanyahu tried to convince his faction to accept Weinstein's position on the committee - abandoning the threatened communities - but has found influential members of his faction have dug in. Yariv Levin went so far as to say any demolitions could "split the Likud."

Barak, who has long advocated policies limiting Jewish land-ownership and construction in Judea and Samaria, has therefore found himself at odds with a Prime Minister faced with a political problem that could - should his faction split - bring down his government.

Neither can Barak, who’s break-away Independence faction has yet to poll well enough to pass the electoral threshold to enter the Knesset, afford to go to elections.

It is unclear what the Netanyahu government will do should the court deny Barak’s motion. 




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6. Iran Threatens 'Street War' in Tel Aviv
by Gavriel Queenann

The head of the Iranian Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission said on Tuesday that Iran would start a 'street war' in Tel Aviv if its nuclear program was attacked.

"Israel is not big enough to launch a military strike on Iran, but if it takes such a foolish decision, the Iranian military will fight with the Zionist soldiers in Tel Aviv streets... and will force them out of the Palestinian soil," Seyed Hossein Naqavi said.

Naqavi also warned, should Tehran's nuclear program be attacked, the battlefield won't be in Iran, but "the entirety of Europe and the US."

"Iranian forces will fight with the enemies with maximum might and power all throughout the European and US soil, if Iran comes under attack," he reiterated.

Naqavi also responded to reports Britain might strike Iran's nuclear sites, saying "a look at the history reveals that the British regime has been using threat, intimidation, terror and colonialism all throughout the last 500 years."

"Now a country with such a long record of crimes and colonialist actions should know very well that the Islamic Republic enjoys a high military capability today," he added.

Naqavi's remarks have become a part of Tehran's mantra of threatening counter-strikes as international criticism of its nuclear aspirations continues to mount.

A recent indictment by the United States of two members of Iran's foreign covert action Quds force for allegedly plotting the assassination of the Saudi Arabian ambassador to Washington has served to fuel efforts to isolate the Islamic Republic.

Also, the International Atomic Energy Agency has released a report asserting that Iran is not only on the verge of being able to build an atomic bomb, but cited western and Israeli intelligence reports Tehran had actively sought nuclear weapons technology.

Tehran's bellicose rhetoric has reached a new zenith, however, amid reports both Britian and Israel were considering independent strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities.

"Iran does not stand alone in the struggle against Israel," Naqavi insisted, "Israel will be destroyed by the allies of the Islamic Republic if she so much as tries to attack us."

However, despite Iran's threats of a 'street war' in Tel Aviv, Tehran's ability to strike Israel directly is limited. While the Islamic Republic does possess a small number of long-range missiles capable of striking Israel, its air force and army would have to move through other countries in which large US and western forces are operating.

Additionally, tensions between Shiite Persian Iran and the predominantly Sunni Arab world - especially Saudi Arabia and its Gulf allies - have limited Tehran's strategic latitude. Analysts say Iran would have to strike Israel by proxy, relying on Syria, Hizbullah, and various terror groups like Hamas who are at war with Israel.

Observers note, however, that Iran may not be able to rely on its regional allies to take significant action on its behalf.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is occupied with seven months of unrest and a growing armed resistance to his regime; while Hizbullah has found itself under increasing fire from Lebanon's main street for maintaining its arms and militia's in the name of  'resistance' - which has drawn Beirut into costly wars with Israel.

Even terror groups in Israel that Iran has sought to turn into proxies by funding their operations may prove unreliable. Hamas, a primary Iranian beneficiary, has consistently sought to avoid a serious Israeli incursion into its Gaza stronghold - which analysts say would be the likely result of meaningful action taken on Tehran's behalf.




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7. White House Doesn't Deny Obama, Sarkozy Conversation
by Elad Benari

The White House would not deny or confirm on Tuesday the reports of a conversation between President Barack Obama and French President Nicolas Sarkozy, in which the latter called Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu “a liar.”

White House spokesman Jay Carney said he had no comment on the conversation or about Obama’s response, when asked about it by reporters traveling with Obama to an event in Philadelphia.

CNN reported that Carney chose instead to address the peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, saying, “The president’s position has been quite clear on the issue of efforts by the Palestinians to achieve through the UN what can only be achieved effectively through direct negotiations.”

The conversation between the French and American presidents took place last week in a private room after a press conference at the G20 summit in Cannes.

The two did not know that their microphones were open and that reporters outside still were wearing their headphones they had used to hear simultaneous translations of President Obama’s remarks in public.

Sarkozy reportedly told Obama about Netanyahu: “I cannot stand him. He is a liar,” to which Obama replied, “You’re fed up with him, but I have to deal with him every day!”

The French Web site Arret sur Images published the conversation.

Senator John McCain, who ran against Obama for the presidency in 2008, criticized the exchange on Tuesday, saying Obama’s remarks reflected his administration’s attitude towards Israel.

Meanwhile, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) said it was “deeply disappointed and saddened” by the private conversation, warning that it could hurt ties between Israel and two key players in the Middle East peace process.

“President Obama’s response to Mr. Sarkozy implies that he agrees with the French leader,” ADL Director Abe Foxman said in a written statement quoted by CNN. “In light of the revelations here, we hope that the Obama administration will do everything it can to reassure Israel that the relationship remains on a sure footing and to reinvigorate the trust between President Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu, which clearly is not what it should be.”




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8. Chavez 'Upholds' PFLP Terrorist's Honor, Hides Personal Health
by Chana Ya'ar

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has called on France to “respect” Carlos the Jackal, an Arab-affiliated terrorist currently on trial for attacks in Paris.

The trial of Ilich Ramirez Sanchez, 62, began Monday, over four terrorist attacks by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine that left 11 people dead and more than 100 wounded in the 1980s.

Sanchez, already serving a life sentence in France, was convicted in 1997 for the 1975 shooting deaths of a Lebanese informant and two French secret agents.

Chavez was quoted by the Associated Press as saying, “We cannot allow any Venezuelan, accused of anything, to be abused in any part of the world. We have a responsibility and we are obliged to uphold it.”

The Venezuelan leader has been a strong supporter of other anti-U.S. and anti-Israel terrorists as well, notably the Hamas terrorist rulers of Gaza. Chavez severed his country's diplomatic ties with Israel following the Jewish State's counter terrorism mini-war with Hamas in the winter of 2008-2009, and subsequently strengthened Venezuela's warm relations with Iran and the Palestinian Authority.

He has also prayed for former Libyan strongman Muammar Qaddafi, and expressed his "solidarity" with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, whose troops have so far slaughtered at least 3,500 civilians in crackdowns on anti-government protesters across the country over the past eight months.

This year Chavez has received at least four rounds of chemotherapy in Cuba since having a cancerous tumor removed from his pelvis in June. An official photo handed out to media showed him bald and bidding farewell to Cuban leader Raul Castro after his final round of treatment in Havana.

The Venezuelan president, who has been in power since 1999, has vowed to run for re-election in 2012. But he is allegedly in far worse health than he has allowed his nation's media to publicize. His former personal surgeon, Dr. Salvador Navarrete was forced to flee the country after revealing that the Venezuelan leader's health was not as vigorous as he was leading the public to believe.

In late September the 57-year-old president was rushed to the Caracas Military Hospital with reported kidney failure. A meeting in Caracas that had been set with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad – with whom he is close -- was postponed indefinitely.

Navarrete confided to the Mexican newspaper Milenio Semanal last month that Chavez's prognosis was “not good,” adding, “When I say this, I mean that he has no more than two years to live.” The physician claimed that he had been urged by Chavez's relatives to make the news public in an attempt to force him to rest and spend his remaining time with his family.








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