By Erick Stakelbeck
CBN News Terrorism Analyst
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
The flags carried the logo of the terror group Hezbollah. The rhetoric was the kind you'd normally hear in Tehran or Gaza.
Yet the scene occurred in Washington, D.C, just minutes from the White House.
"We must stand united to defeat, to destroy, to dismantle Israel--if possible by peaceful means," Kaukab Siddique said. "Perhaps, like Saladin, we will give them enough food and water to travel back to the lands from where they came to occupy other people."
Siddique is an associate professor of English at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania.
He used his time outside the classroom over Labor Day weekend to address radical Muslims and leftists at an anti-Israel rally in Washington, D.C. marking "Al Quds Day."
"For the Jews, I would say see what could happen to you if the Muslims wake up," Siddique warned. "And I say to the Muslims, dear brothers and sisters, unite and rise up against this hydra-headed monster which calls itself Zionism."
The Investigative Project on Terrorism captured footage of Siddique's Washington rant.
"This is not a one off deal, this event Labor Day weekend," IPT Executive Director Ray Locker told CBN News. "This is something he has said at similar events over a period of at least a dozen years, as far as we can tell."
CBN News found e-mail exchanges posted online in which Siddique called the Holocaust "a hoax" that was "invented," saying there is "not even one document" to prove it happened.
He's also written that Jews have "taken over America" by "devious and immoral means."
Despite a history of anti-Semitic statements, Siddique maintains a job teaching literature at Lincoln University and sits on at least two school committees.
Lincoln is the nation's oldest historically African-American college. Since 2003, it's received almost $200 million in Pennsylvania state money towards various projects.
Lincoln University administrators declined to appear on camera with CBN News. But the school's executive vice president, Michael Hill, told us they in no way agree with or support Siddique's comments on Israel. However, Hill added that Siddique is tenured and has freedom of speech, and the school cannot control what he does or says on his time as a private citizen.
Siddique has also advocated for two convicted terrorists with ties to al-Qaeda -- including the cleric behind the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.
"It's one thing to have strong beliefs," Locker said. "It's another to advocate violence and go to bat for people who are established terrorists."
Hill told CBN News the school will make sure that Siddique's political comments are not part of his classroom curriculum.
Siddique declined a CBN News request for an on-camera interview. But in an e-mail response to our questions, he denied that he was anti-Semitic and said his "speaking out" about Israel, "conform(s) to the ideals and principles that founded Lincoln University."
He added, "When I refer critically to the 'Jews' I am referring to the current leadership of the 'State of Israel' and to their major supporters, not to the Jewish race as a whole."
Siddique's recent statements in Washington, however, appear to suggest otherwise.
"The Koran says drive them out from where they drove you out," he declared. "There's no question of just dismantling the settlements. These settlements are only the tentacles of the devil that resides in Tel Aviv."
source:http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2010/October/College-Professor-Calls-for-Israels-Destruction/?cpid=EU_CBNNEWSPM_2010_291
Showing posts with label hezbollah. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hezbollah. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Monday, September 6, 2010
The target: Jerusalem
Op-ed: Accurate Hezbollah rocket arsenal makes symbolic Jerusalem sites a potential target
Alex Fishman
Published: 09.06.10, 11:24 / Israel Opinion
Syria’s president and Hezbollah’s secretary general do not believe a word coming out of Israel. Assad and Nasrallah perceive everything that happens here as a scheme; in their view, the Israelis are always cooking up something. Even the forged so-called “Galant document” is some kind of deception in their eyes. They just haven’t figured it out yet.
We can reasonably assume that Major General Gadi Eisenkot’s decision to stay on as Northern Command chief is also perceived as a trick that has to do with Israeli preparations for confrontation. After all, it’s impossible for an officer to refuse a defense minister or army chief’s request to become deputy chief of staff. For Assad and Nasrallah there’s no such thing. There’s no other possibility: Everything is about schemes.
Meanwhile, for the Iranian-Syrian coalition, Iraq’s weakening and Saudi Arabia’s military buildup (the recent $60 billion arms deal,) along with the Israeli-Palestinian talks, are processes that call for action. Moreover, the Iranians are still preparing for an American-Israeli offensive which they’re sure will come.
Yet the current threat on our north includes implications we haven’t seen in the past. If, for example, Israelis were certain that Jerusalem and its holy sites will always remain out of bounds for the missiles – because it’s unimaginable that the Syrians or Iranians will hit the Temple Mount, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, any other Muslim or Christian holy site, or the Arabs of east Jerusalem - this assumption is invalid given the new realities. If Israelis viewed Jerusalem as a refuge for a cloudy day where they can escape to once missiles start landing in central Israel, this perception is over.
Iron Dome around Jerusalem?
Hezbollah’s dramatic armament process, where it equipped itself with long-range, accurate rockets (such as the M-600 missiles,) turns west Jerusalem into an attractive target. And if missile also constitute a terror weapon aimed at undermining morale, Israel’s capital is a wonderful target given the many symbolic sites there: The Knesset, government offices, the High Court of Justice, and so on. On top of it, the accurate rockets and missiles minimize the possibility of harming east Jerusalem residents.
The IDF Home Front command is already addressing this threat, and the above statements are openly presented to the heads of Jerusalem-area municipalities. Nasrallah talks about reciprocity, and we may end up discovering batteries of the anti-missile Iron Dome system deployed around the capital.
Meanwhile, rockets from Gaza already have an 80-kilometer (roughly 50 miles) range, reaching all the way to Kfar Saba, northeast of Tel Aviv. We won’t be surprised to discover in a year or two that these rockets already have a 100-kilometer range. This is the pace of rocket development in the Strip.
The military conclusion from these changes is as follows: The next war may require the IDF to start with deterring blows – in Syria, Lebanon and Gaza – because taking over territory is a long process that exacts many casualties.
And then there’s the diplomatic conclusion: An agreement with the Palestinian Authority is not the ultimate solution that will allay the tensions in the region. At best, such deal may be an (important) step en route to a regional agreement.
source:http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3950184,00.html
Alex Fishman
Published: 09.06.10, 11:24 / Israel Opinion
Syria’s president and Hezbollah’s secretary general do not believe a word coming out of Israel. Assad and Nasrallah perceive everything that happens here as a scheme; in their view, the Israelis are always cooking up something. Even the forged so-called “Galant document” is some kind of deception in their eyes. They just haven’t figured it out yet.
We can reasonably assume that Major General Gadi Eisenkot’s decision to stay on as Northern Command chief is also perceived as a trick that has to do with Israeli preparations for confrontation. After all, it’s impossible for an officer to refuse a defense minister or army chief’s request to become deputy chief of staff. For Assad and Nasrallah there’s no such thing. There’s no other possibility: Everything is about schemes.
Meanwhile, for the Iranian-Syrian coalition, Iraq’s weakening and Saudi Arabia’s military buildup (the recent $60 billion arms deal,) along with the Israeli-Palestinian talks, are processes that call for action. Moreover, the Iranians are still preparing for an American-Israeli offensive which they’re sure will come.
Yet the current threat on our north includes implications we haven’t seen in the past. If, for example, Israelis were certain that Jerusalem and its holy sites will always remain out of bounds for the missiles – because it’s unimaginable that the Syrians or Iranians will hit the Temple Mount, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, any other Muslim or Christian holy site, or the Arabs of east Jerusalem - this assumption is invalid given the new realities. If Israelis viewed Jerusalem as a refuge for a cloudy day where they can escape to once missiles start landing in central Israel, this perception is over.
Iron Dome around Jerusalem?
Hezbollah’s dramatic armament process, where it equipped itself with long-range, accurate rockets (such as the M-600 missiles,) turns west Jerusalem into an attractive target. And if missile also constitute a terror weapon aimed at undermining morale, Israel’s capital is a wonderful target given the many symbolic sites there: The Knesset, government offices, the High Court of Justice, and so on. On top of it, the accurate rockets and missiles minimize the possibility of harming east Jerusalem residents.
The IDF Home Front command is already addressing this threat, and the above statements are openly presented to the heads of Jerusalem-area municipalities. Nasrallah talks about reciprocity, and we may end up discovering batteries of the anti-missile Iron Dome system deployed around the capital.
Meanwhile, rockets from Gaza already have an 80-kilometer (roughly 50 miles) range, reaching all the way to Kfar Saba, northeast of Tel Aviv. We won’t be surprised to discover in a year or two that these rockets already have a 100-kilometer range. This is the pace of rocket development in the Strip.
The military conclusion from these changes is as follows: The next war may require the IDF to start with deterring blows – in Syria, Lebanon and Gaza – because taking over territory is a long process that exacts many casualties.
And then there’s the diplomatic conclusion: An agreement with the Palestinian Authority is not the ultimate solution that will allay the tensions in the region. At best, such deal may be an (important) step en route to a regional agreement.
source:http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3950184,00.html
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
IDF Officer Killed as Lebanon Opens Fire on Northern Border
03 August 2010
LAF opened fire at IDF forces operating inside Israeli territory, killing Lt. Col. (res.) Dov Harari. White House sent condolences to the Harari family.
Elana Kieffer
The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) fired at an IDF position in the Israeli side of the border along the Lebanese border in northern Israel on Tuesday afternoon (Aug. 3). The Israeli soldiers who were fired on had been in Israeli territory, carrying out routine maintenance which had been coordinated ahead of time with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which is the peacekeeping force created by the UN Security Council in March 1978 following Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon.
Lt. Col. Dov Harari (45) from Netanya was killed by the LAF during this incident. The White House sent President Barak Obama's personal condolences to the Harari family, on the passing of the Battalion Commander. Harari served as a battalion commander. Capt. Ezra Lakia (30) from Kfar Ha'Rif sustained severe injuries in the same incident. Capt. Lakia served as a platoon commander.
The border area is west of the Israeli town of Misgav Am. The incident occurred east of the internationally recognized “Blue Line”, the border between Israel and Lebanon, and west of the security fence, thus lying within Israeli territory.
The IDF force immediately returned fire to an LAF force. Several minutes later an Israel Air Force (IAF) helicopter fired at the LAF Battalion Command Center in Al-Taybeh, damaging several LAF armored combat vehicles.
The IDF holds the LAF responsible for the incident that disrupted the calm in the region, and its consequences.
Chief of the General Staff, Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi, arrived at Israel's northern border and has been closely following the events as they unfold. He is currently holding situation assessment meetings with the Commander of IDF's Northern Command, Maj. Gen. Gadi Eisenkot, as well as the Commander of the Galilee Regional Division and additional commanders.
Since the conclusion of the Second Lebanon War over four years ago, three incidents of firing towards Israeli territory have been recorded, and terrorist organizations have claimed responsibility for each of these incidents.
There have also been two recorded incidents of Lebanon violating the Blue Line. First, in a cross border raid in October 2000, Hezbollah forces abducted and killed three IDF soldiers, Sgt. First Class Adi Avitan (22), Sgt. First Class Benyamin Avraham (21), and Sgt. First Class Omar Sawaid (27), who at the time had been patrolling on the Israeli side of the border demarcation.
In an additional cross border raid in 2006, Hezbollah forces attacked two Israeli armored Hum-vees which were located within the Israeli side of the border. As a result, seven IDF soldiers were killed, two were wounded, and Sgt. First Class Ehud Goldwasser and Sgt. First Class Eldad Regev were abducted and killed.
source:http://dover.idf.il/IDF/English/News/today/10/08/0302.htm
LAF opened fire at IDF forces operating inside Israeli territory, killing Lt. Col. (res.) Dov Harari. White House sent condolences to the Harari family.
Elana Kieffer
The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) fired at an IDF position in the Israeli side of the border along the Lebanese border in northern Israel on Tuesday afternoon (Aug. 3). The Israeli soldiers who were fired on had been in Israeli territory, carrying out routine maintenance which had been coordinated ahead of time with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which is the peacekeeping force created by the UN Security Council in March 1978 following Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon.
Lt. Col. Dov Harari (45) from Netanya was killed by the LAF during this incident. The White House sent President Barak Obama's personal condolences to the Harari family, on the passing of the Battalion Commander. Harari served as a battalion commander. Capt. Ezra Lakia (30) from Kfar Ha'Rif sustained severe injuries in the same incident. Capt. Lakia served as a platoon commander.
The border area is west of the Israeli town of Misgav Am. The incident occurred east of the internationally recognized “Blue Line”, the border between Israel and Lebanon, and west of the security fence, thus lying within Israeli territory.
The IDF force immediately returned fire to an LAF force. Several minutes later an Israel Air Force (IAF) helicopter fired at the LAF Battalion Command Center in Al-Taybeh, damaging several LAF armored combat vehicles.
The IDF holds the LAF responsible for the incident that disrupted the calm in the region, and its consequences.
Chief of the General Staff, Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi, arrived at Israel's northern border and has been closely following the events as they unfold. He is currently holding situation assessment meetings with the Commander of IDF's Northern Command, Maj. Gen. Gadi Eisenkot, as well as the Commander of the Galilee Regional Division and additional commanders.
Since the conclusion of the Second Lebanon War over four years ago, three incidents of firing towards Israeli territory have been recorded, and terrorist organizations have claimed responsibility for each of these incidents.
There have also been two recorded incidents of Lebanon violating the Blue Line. First, in a cross border raid in October 2000, Hezbollah forces abducted and killed three IDF soldiers, Sgt. First Class Adi Avitan (22), Sgt. First Class Benyamin Avraham (21), and Sgt. First Class Omar Sawaid (27), who at the time had been patrolling on the Israeli side of the border demarcation.
In an additional cross border raid in 2006, Hezbollah forces attacked two Israeli armored Hum-vees which were located within the Israeli side of the border. As a result, seven IDF soldiers were killed, two were wounded, and Sgt. First Class Ehud Goldwasser and Sgt. First Class Eldad Regev were abducted and killed.
source:http://dover.idf.il/IDF/English/News/today/10/08/0302.htm
Lebanese Christian Leader Takes on Hezbollah
President Barack Obama's top counterterrorism advisor John Brennan created a stir recently when he talked of building up the "more moderate elements" of the terrorist group Hezbollah.
But in response to such an idea, one Christian member of Lebanon's Parliament said, "Good luck with that."
"Hezbollah is a very dangerous party because they are trying to impose to Lebanon their policy and their vision of jihad and martyrdom," said Nadim Gemayel, member of the Lebanon Parliament. "And this is unacceptable."
Gemayel has called for Hezbollah to disarm. He told CBN News in an exclusive interview that the Shiite terror militia has hijacked his country.
"It's abiding to the rules of the Iranian revolution," Gemayel said of the gorup. "But moreover, I think that with the support, of course, of the Iranian arms and the money and the financing of the Iranians and from the facilities that Syria is providing to Hezbollah, we are having a party -- a military party -- growing day after day and year after year -- especially after the war of 2006."
In that war, Israel heavily damaged Hezbollah's stronghold in southern Lebanon after the group kidnapped two Israeli soldiers.
Hezbollah has been able to regroup -- to the tune of some 60,000 rockets and long range missiles. Israeli officials believe that those rockets and missiles are aimed at their country from across the Lebanese border.
Gemayel said Hezbollah sponsors, Iran and Syria, are funneling the weapons into his country. He told CBN News that most Lebanese are afraid of the terrorist group and its Iranian influence in their country.
"Today, I think that most of the Lebanese, of course, are afraid," Gemayel said. "And maybe some of them cannot say clearly and openly what I am saying today: and that is Hezbollah is threatening them."
Speaking out like this can be deadly. Gemayel's father, former Lebanese President Bashir Gemayel, was assassinated by Syrian operatives in 1982. His cousin Pierre was also murdered in 2006.
CBN News asked Gemayal that as a bold, Christian voice in Lebanon, if he ever feared for his own safety.
"I think that this battle -- the battle of freedom, the battle of democracy, and especially the battle of preserving the role and existence of the Christians in Lebanon is very, very important." he responded. "And it's worth giving all that I have in order to preserve the civilization and the culture and the role of Christians in Lebanon."
source:http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/insideisrael/2010/August/Source-Hezbollah-Party-a-Threat-to-Lebanon/
But in response to such an idea, one Christian member of Lebanon's Parliament said, "Good luck with that."
"Hezbollah is a very dangerous party because they are trying to impose to Lebanon their policy and their vision of jihad and martyrdom," said Nadim Gemayel, member of the Lebanon Parliament. "And this is unacceptable."
Gemayel has called for Hezbollah to disarm. He told CBN News in an exclusive interview that the Shiite terror militia has hijacked his country.
"It's abiding to the rules of the Iranian revolution," Gemayel said of the gorup. "But moreover, I think that with the support, of course, of the Iranian arms and the money and the financing of the Iranians and from the facilities that Syria is providing to Hezbollah, we are having a party -- a military party -- growing day after day and year after year -- especially after the war of 2006."
In that war, Israel heavily damaged Hezbollah's stronghold in southern Lebanon after the group kidnapped two Israeli soldiers.
Hezbollah has been able to regroup -- to the tune of some 60,000 rockets and long range missiles. Israeli officials believe that those rockets and missiles are aimed at their country from across the Lebanese border.
Gemayel said Hezbollah sponsors, Iran and Syria, are funneling the weapons into his country. He told CBN News that most Lebanese are afraid of the terrorist group and its Iranian influence in their country.
"Today, I think that most of the Lebanese, of course, are afraid," Gemayel said. "And maybe some of them cannot say clearly and openly what I am saying today: and that is Hezbollah is threatening them."
Speaking out like this can be deadly. Gemayel's father, former Lebanese President Bashir Gemayel, was assassinated by Syrian operatives in 1982. His cousin Pierre was also murdered in 2006.
CBN News asked Gemayal that as a bold, Christian voice in Lebanon, if he ever feared for his own safety.
"I think that this battle -- the battle of freedom, the battle of democracy, and especially the battle of preserving the role and existence of the Christians in Lebanon is very, very important." he responded. "And it's worth giving all that I have in order to preserve the civilization and the culture and the role of Christians in Lebanon."
source:http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/insideisrael/2010/August/Source-Hezbollah-Party-a-Threat-to-Lebanon/
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
IDC Simulation: "Iran: The Day After"
18 May 2010 , 13:45
Simulation involving previous high ranking officials, diplomats and academics conclude that Israel would show restraint during a Hezbollah attack if Iran has nuclear weapons.
Eduardo Missri
A nuclear Iran would effectively deter Israel from a disproportionate response after a long-range missile falls in the heart of Tel-Aviv, according to the conclusions of a simulation held at IDC Herzliya organized by the Lauder School of Government on Sunday (May 16).
The simulation “Iran: The Day After” was based on a similar event that took place in Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government which ended with Russia and China siding with Iran and a crisis developing between the United States and Israel.
The scenario simulated a Hezbollah attack in the center of Tel Aviv Ministry of Defense building in the Kyria Military Base. During this round, the participants, among them high ranking officials, academics and diplomats, were unable to mount a full military response even though discreet messages from Arab countries pushed Israel to go “all the way”.
Israel instead was restrained by the United States which after knowing that Hezbollah had slipped a dirty bomb to Hezbollah mounted a full international response with surprising support from many countries. The multinational force would go into Lebanon to secure the radioactive material and to implement resolution 1701 to disarm Hezbollah.
Retired Air Force Commander Eitan Ben-Eliahu said that “Iran deterrence proved dizzyingly effective.”
Moroever, former Israeli ambassador to the U.S., Zalman Shoval, led the Israeli team as Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said that “This would be a very serious act of war with serious losses of life and would be seen this way by the public. As Prime Minister, I would call for the opposition to join an emergency coalition government and hold a conversation with the president of the U.S. We would expect the U.S. to make clear decisions in regard to an umbrella defense for us in the region.” He also added that Israel would wait to coordinate a response with the U.S.
“As far as the United States was concerned, Israel was trigger-happy. It sought to use the Hezbollah attack as a justification for what the United States was told would be an all-out war,” said Dan Kurtzer, former U.S. ambassador to Israel who played President Barack Obama.
Referring to the quick response to Hezbollah’s dirty bomb smuggled by Iran, Dan Kurtzer said that “In certain circumstances U.S. diplomacy can actually work in this region, and it ends up not only leaving Israel in check but it also ends up leading a more willing international coalition.”
Also in the event, Maj. Gen (res.) Zeevi Farkash participated as the Iranian Supreme leader Ali Khamenei and doubted that Iran would be hostile after achieving nuclear capability. “Iran would regard its bomb as a means of self-defense and strategic balance,” he said.
Tzipi Livni, the head of the opposition, attended the simulation as an observer. During the conclusions she said, “As leader of the free world, the United States has the responsibility of leading more effective sanctions that can turn around, absolutely, this shift from a process of stopping Iran to a process of acceptance.
source:http://dover.idf.il/IDF/English/News/today/10/05/1802.htm
Simulation involving previous high ranking officials, diplomats and academics conclude that Israel would show restraint during a Hezbollah attack if Iran has nuclear weapons.
Eduardo Missri
A nuclear Iran would effectively deter Israel from a disproportionate response after a long-range missile falls in the heart of Tel-Aviv, according to the conclusions of a simulation held at IDC Herzliya organized by the Lauder School of Government on Sunday (May 16).
The simulation “Iran: The Day After” was based on a similar event that took place in Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government which ended with Russia and China siding with Iran and a crisis developing between the United States and Israel.
The scenario simulated a Hezbollah attack in the center of Tel Aviv Ministry of Defense building in the Kyria Military Base. During this round, the participants, among them high ranking officials, academics and diplomats, were unable to mount a full military response even though discreet messages from Arab countries pushed Israel to go “all the way”.
Israel instead was restrained by the United States which after knowing that Hezbollah had slipped a dirty bomb to Hezbollah mounted a full international response with surprising support from many countries. The multinational force would go into Lebanon to secure the radioactive material and to implement resolution 1701 to disarm Hezbollah.
Retired Air Force Commander Eitan Ben-Eliahu said that “Iran deterrence proved dizzyingly effective.”
Moroever, former Israeli ambassador to the U.S., Zalman Shoval, led the Israeli team as Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said that “This would be a very serious act of war with serious losses of life and would be seen this way by the public. As Prime Minister, I would call for the opposition to join an emergency coalition government and hold a conversation with the president of the U.S. We would expect the U.S. to make clear decisions in regard to an umbrella defense for us in the region.” He also added that Israel would wait to coordinate a response with the U.S.
“As far as the United States was concerned, Israel was trigger-happy. It sought to use the Hezbollah attack as a justification for what the United States was told would be an all-out war,” said Dan Kurtzer, former U.S. ambassador to Israel who played President Barack Obama.
Referring to the quick response to Hezbollah’s dirty bomb smuggled by Iran, Dan Kurtzer said that “In certain circumstances U.S. diplomacy can actually work in this region, and it ends up not only leaving Israel in check but it also ends up leading a more willing international coalition.”
Also in the event, Maj. Gen (res.) Zeevi Farkash participated as the Iranian Supreme leader Ali Khamenei and doubted that Iran would be hostile after achieving nuclear capability. “Iran would regard its bomb as a means of self-defense and strategic balance,” he said.
Tzipi Livni, the head of the opposition, attended the simulation as an observer. During the conclusions she said, “As leader of the free world, the United States has the responsibility of leading more effective sanctions that can turn around, absolutely, this shift from a process of stopping Iran to a process of acceptance.
source:http://dover.idf.il/IDF/English/News/today/10/05/1802.htm
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
"Hezbollah's scuds are only the tip of the iceberg"
04 May 2010 , 18:22
Brig. Gen. Yossi Beiditz briefed the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Hezbollah, Syria and Iran. According to Beiditz, the transfer of weapons to Hezbollah is not considered the smuggling of weapons to Lebanon - it is an official and organized transfer.
Arnon Ben-Dror
The head of the Research Department in the Intelligence Directorate, Brig. Gen. Yossi Beiditz, met on Tuesday (May 4) with the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee of the Israeli Parliament, and discussed publicized reports that have been issued recently about the transfer of scud missiles from Syria to Hezbollah.
"Syria plays a significant role in the ever-growing rocket arsenal in the hands of Hezbollah," said Brig. Gen. Beiditz. "The transfer of weapons to Hezbollah occurs consistently from Syria and is organized by the Syrian and Iranian regimes. Therefore this is not considered the smuggling of weapons to Lebanon- it is an official and organized transfer."
The head of the Research Department confirmed that long-range missiles have been recently transferred from Syria to Hezbollah, and said that "this is just the tip of the iceberg," and that "already today Hezbollah has in its hands an arsenal of thousands of every type and range of rockets, including long-range and more efficient solid-fuel missiles."
According to Beiditz, "the long ranges of the missiles in the hands of Hezbollah enable them to place their launchers deep inside of Lebanon, and they cover ranges that are much longer than what we have seen in the past. Hezbollah in 2006 was different from Hezbollah in 2010 from the standpoint of their military capabilities which has developed more."
He continued to say that "Syria continues to march on two different paths without being forced on the international arena to choose between them. On one side Syria is improving her relations with the West, with the Arab states, and with Turkey, and is returning to a role of influence within Lebanon. At the same time, Syria is deepening her strategic and operational cooperation with Iran, Hezbollah and the Palestinian terror organizations."
Iran has overcome technological obstacles in creating a nuclear bomb
Brig. Gen. Beiditz also covered Iran's nuclear program. "The Iranians continue to promote their nuclear program and they are accumulating abilities that enable them to attack with nuclear weapons at any moment they decide to," he said. "From this moment, everything depends on their decision. If in the past arriving at nuclear capabilities was dependent on overcoming technological obstacles, today, in Iran, it is dependent on their decision alone to bring about the creation of a nuclear bomb."
Brig. Gen. Beiditz also spoke about the travel warnings to Sinai which were publicized recently by the Counter Terrorism Bureau. "On the eve of Passover there was an actual warning related to the activities of Bedouins in Sinai where they were supposed to kidnap Israelis spending time there, and transfer them to the military wing of Hamas. There was a plan of cooperation between them. The publicity deterred the groups, but there is still the possibility that Bedouins acting as subcontractors will kidnap Israelis and transfer them over to Hamas."
source:"Hezbollah's scuds are only the tip of the iceberg"
Brig. Gen. Yossi Beiditz briefed the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Hezbollah, Syria and Iran. According to Beiditz, the transfer of weapons to Hezbollah is not considered the smuggling of weapons to Lebanon - it is an official and organized transfer.
Arnon Ben-Dror
The head of the Research Department in the Intelligence Directorate, Brig. Gen. Yossi Beiditz, met on Tuesday (May 4) with the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee of the Israeli Parliament, and discussed publicized reports that have been issued recently about the transfer of scud missiles from Syria to Hezbollah.
"Syria plays a significant role in the ever-growing rocket arsenal in the hands of Hezbollah," said Brig. Gen. Beiditz. "The transfer of weapons to Hezbollah occurs consistently from Syria and is organized by the Syrian and Iranian regimes. Therefore this is not considered the smuggling of weapons to Lebanon- it is an official and organized transfer."
The head of the Research Department confirmed that long-range missiles have been recently transferred from Syria to Hezbollah, and said that "this is just the tip of the iceberg," and that "already today Hezbollah has in its hands an arsenal of thousands of every type and range of rockets, including long-range and more efficient solid-fuel missiles."
According to Beiditz, "the long ranges of the missiles in the hands of Hezbollah enable them to place their launchers deep inside of Lebanon, and they cover ranges that are much longer than what we have seen in the past. Hezbollah in 2006 was different from Hezbollah in 2010 from the standpoint of their military capabilities which has developed more."
He continued to say that "Syria continues to march on two different paths without being forced on the international arena to choose between them. On one side Syria is improving her relations with the West, with the Arab states, and with Turkey, and is returning to a role of influence within Lebanon. At the same time, Syria is deepening her strategic and operational cooperation with Iran, Hezbollah and the Palestinian terror organizations."
Iran has overcome technological obstacles in creating a nuclear bomb
Brig. Gen. Beiditz also covered Iran's nuclear program. "The Iranians continue to promote their nuclear program and they are accumulating abilities that enable them to attack with nuclear weapons at any moment they decide to," he said. "From this moment, everything depends on their decision. If in the past arriving at nuclear capabilities was dependent on overcoming technological obstacles, today, in Iran, it is dependent on their decision alone to bring about the creation of a nuclear bomb."
Brig. Gen. Beiditz also spoke about the travel warnings to Sinai which were publicized recently by the Counter Terrorism Bureau. "On the eve of Passover there was an actual warning related to the activities of Bedouins in Sinai where they were supposed to kidnap Israelis spending time there, and transfer them to the military wing of Hamas. There was a plan of cooperation between them. The publicity deterred the groups, but there is still the possibility that Bedouins acting as subcontractors will kidnap Israelis and transfer them over to Hamas."
source:"Hezbollah's scuds are only the tip of the iceberg"
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