“Hamas is Responsible for Rocket Attacks against Israel”

Photo: IDF Spokesperson

15 August 2010 , 16:18

The Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center has issued a report showing Hamas operatives with Iranian weapons to be responsible for rocket attacks against Israel and Jordan

A report released on Sunday (Aug. 15) by the Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center, based on reports by Egyptian and Palestinian sources, shows Hamas to be responsible for the two incidents of rocket attacks fired at Israel from the Sinai Desert this year. A terrorist cell of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the militant wing of the Hamas terrorist organization, has been proven responsible in both instances.
On August 2, 2010, six 122mm rockets were fired from the Sinai Desert towards Israel. Three of the rockets fell inside Eilat, one of which fell inside a drainage pool located in the northern section of the city. No injuries were reported. Two additional rockets fell in the city of Aqaba at the Intercontinental Hotel there. A Jordanian civilian was killed and five were injured. The sixth rocket fell in the sea.

Earlier this year, on April 22, 2010, three 122mm grad rockets were fired from the Sinai Desert toward Eilat and Aqaba. One rocket was identified falling in the sea south of Eilat and another was found in Jordanian territory in Aqaba. Two days later, scuba divers discovered the third grad rocket approximately 70 meters south of the Eilat shores, at a depth of about 30 meters.

In both instances, Hamas operatives used rockets from Iran. These rockets were smuggled into the Gaza Strip mainly through smuggling tunnels between the Gaza Strip and Egypt. The Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center report quotes Egyptian press blaming Iran for using Hamas operatives and additional subcontractors who smuggle in return for payment by Iran.

Behind the attacks: A strong desire to disrupt direct peace talks

The report by the Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center claims that the reason for these rocket attacks being carried out in places such as the Sinai Desert is a desire by Hamas’ militant wing to broaden terrorist activities to areas outside of the Gaza Strip and the Judea and Samaria region. In the Gaza Strip, Hamas has been practicing restraint with regards to carrying out terrorist attacks, because of strong Israeli deterrence measures and because of Hamas’ own political considerations. In the Judea and Samaria region, this restraint by Hamas is seen as a result of successful thwarting and prevention actions taken by Israel and the security forces of the Palestinian Authority.

An additional reason for these rocket attacks is the desire by Hamas to disrupt the peace process in general, and the direct talks in particular. As a reminder, Khaled Mashal, the Chairman of Hamas’ Political Bureau was recently quoted discussing the importance of Jihad and armed struggle against the legitimization of the existence of Israel and the negotiations taking place with Israel.
source:http://dover.idf.il/IDF/English/News/today/10/08/1501.htm

Muslims Seek to Censor Gospel of Christ

by Staff
August 13, 2010

BRIDGEPORT, Conn., (christiansunite.com) -- In an unprecedented move, Muslim leaders in Connecticut are staging a press conference in Hartford this afternoon, to plead with legislators to censor the Gospel of Christ from the public forum around mosques.

That's right! They are using their own potential for violence to silence the Gospel of Christ. Gentle Christian saints will be conducting a press conference on the public sidewalk in front of the Bridgeport Islamic Center, aka Mafjid An-Noor Mosque in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Truth is hate to those who hate the truth.

Islam is not a religion, nor a cult, but a total and complete 100 % system of life. It has religious, legal, political, economic, social, and military components. In all of the 27 countries ruled by Islam, the church is the state! No other religion will be tolerated.

"Islam presents a monstrous worldview, birthed in the pit of hell, which brings untold misery and murder upon precious people created in the image of God. Religion is its cover (its beard) by which it gains entrance into nations where the 'freedom of religion' is sacrosanct. It then takes this freedom afforded to it, and begins its insidious takeover." Rev. Flip Benham of Operation Save America.

"Like a python, slowly moving upon its prey with almost imperceptible and hypnotic movement, it begins to coil around its victim until it squeezes every last breath of air out of him. When dead, the victim is swallowed whole."

The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution states that Congress shall make no law prohibiting the free exercise of religion, yet the Quran states in Sura 4:89, "Those who reject Islam must be killed. If they turn back (from Islam) take hold of them and kill them wherever you find them."

The key difference between Islam and Christianity is that Islam believes that we are to lay the lives of others down to promote the cause of Allah. Christianity, on the other hand, believes that we are to lay down our own lives that others might live. There is a huge difference between a Christian martyr (laying his own life down) and a martyr for Islam (laying the lives of others down). One requires courage. The other is the supreme act of cowardice.
source:http://news.christiansunite.com/Religion_News/religion09587.shtml

Pakistan's Christians protest against blasphemy laws and inequality

by ASSIST News ServicePosted: Thursday, August 12, 2010, 11:35 (BST)

Three days prior to Pakistan's 63rd Independence Celebrations, the Christians of the country observed "Black Day" on Wednesday to protest alleged discrimination against them.

Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Pakistan's founder, in his famous August 11, 1947, speech to the newly-formed Constituent Assembly promised "freedom and equality" for all faiths in the then new country and so this has become a symbolic date for Christian protests.

The latest protests were staged by Human Rights Focus Pakistan (HRFP). Representatives of churches, Christian rights groups and believers from all walks of life, participated in a protest rally which ended at the Lahore Press Club.

Naveed Walter, President of HRFP, who addressed a press conference at the Lahore Press Club, later told ANS that the "increasing incidents of injustice and discrimination" against Pakistani Christians had prompted his group and other Christian organisations to observe August 11 as "Black Day".

Mr Walter told ANS, "We had urged all like-minded organisations across Pakistan to observe August 11 as 'Black Day' either with us or from their respective platforms."

He said that his group categorically demanded the repeal of Pakistan controversial blasphemy laws and that Pakistan's religious minorities be given the right to cast dual votes. He explained that, if implemented, members of the religious minorities under a dual vote system would be able to cast their vote for a Muslim candidate as well as to a member from minorities' communities on the "reserved seats".

Members of the religious minorities in Pakistan currently make their way to the national and provincial assemblies of Pakistan through the proportional representation system.

Criticising this system, Walter alleged that the people who make it to the national and provincial assemblies under proportional representation "only serve rulers instead of serving their respective communities".

Mr Walter added, "They are not accountable to the members of their respective community, but to the leadership of the political party that they belong to.

"The existing members of minorities in Parliament are puppets in the hands of the rulers. They are advancing the interests of the majority instead of their respective minority community."

He then alleged: "The rulers use them to stop the oppressed from agitating against the oppressors."

Walter said that he was of the view that under the Dual Vote System, the elected parliamentarians of minorities' communities would be accountable to their respective minority community.

When asked if he was in favour of an amendment in the blasphemy laws or even their repeal, Mr Walter said that the laws should be "repealed once and for all".

The Christian rights activist then claimed that there was "no equality" in Pakistan.

"I only wish there was equality here for people of all faiths," he added. "I wish that the Christians of Pakistan were treated equally in Pakistan as the Muslims and other religious minorities are treated equally in Western countries."

He also condemned the idea of observing what is called "Minority Day" in Pakistan.

"What is the rationale behind observing 'Minority Day' in Pakistan when the Christians of this country are being shot dead under the pretext of blasphemy?," he argued.

"Why should the Christians of Pakistan observe 'Minority Day' when their places of worship are being desecrated; when their homes are being burned down; and Christian girls are being raped?" he went on to say.

Mr Walter said that HRFP was planning to host Minorities Conference in Pakistan in future to discuss all the difficulties that these groups face.

"We will continue our struggle for equal rights for Pakistani minorities including Pakistani Christians," he vowed.
source:http://www.christiantoday.com/article/pakistans.christians.protest.against.blasphemy.laws.and.inequality/26483.htm

Pastor murdered in Dagestan, Russia

by Staff
August 12, 2010

(christiansunite.com) - On July 15, Pastor Artur Suleimanov (49) was murdered by a gunman who shot him in the head as he was getting into his car to leave the Hosanna House of Prayer in Makhachkala, Dagestan -- a federal republic of Russia in the North Caucasus region.

He passed away approximately an hour later in hospital. Pastor Suleimanov was well known as a dynamic leader of one of the largest Protestant churches in the republic. "Pastor Suleimanov was a wonderful Christian brother and his shocking death is a devastating loss for the Dagestan church," a coordinator with Barnabas Fund has said.

"He and the Hosanna House of Prayer church were very active in ministry and outreach in particular. We see his murder as an attempt to put further pressure on Christian converts in Dagestan." Pastor Suleimanov leaves to mourn a wife and five children. (Source: Barnabas Fund)
source:http://news.christiansunite.com/Religion_News/religion09583.shtml

LA Times agrees: Gaza pullout was a mistake

Even the most liberal of commentators on the Middle East peace process are waking up to the fact that it was a mistake for Israel to unilaterally uproot the 10,000 Jews living in the Gaza Strip in 2005.

In a piece carried in the Sunday edition of the Los Angeles Times, columnist Edmund Sanders opined that the withdrawal implemented by then-Prime Minister Ariel Sharon under heavy American pressure was an error in judgment by all parties involved.

Sanders noted that while "disengagement enjoyed broad support at the time" both in Israel and abroad, "almost no one calls it a success today."

Among the negative results of the withdrawal, Sanders recognizes that it "helped put Hamas in power... Security for Israelis didn't improve - and even worsened... It contributed to increased isolation for Israel internationally... It raised doubts as to whether the Palestinians are actually ready for statehood... [and] it made Israelis more cynical about the chances for future land-for-peace deals."

Just before the so-called "disengagement," Sharon and the Bush Administration promised Israelis that wholly surrendering Gaza to the Palestinians would create an atmosphere conducive to final state peace negotiations and give Israel a more free hand to defend itself, which in turn would create a deterrent against continued Palestinian attacks from Gaza.

In reality, Hamas painted the withdrawal as an Israeli retreat created by its "resistance" and road that image to an impressive electoral victory and eventual military take-over of Gaza. Hamas then proceeded to fire thousands of rockets into southern Israel over a six-month period in 2008 that precipitated an Israeli invasion of the coastal strip. Rather than keep its word that Israel would have a more free hand in dealing with Gaza-based terror after the withdrawal, the international community blamed Israel for starting the "Gaza war" and accused the Jewish state of war crimes.
source:http://www.israeltoday.co.il/default.aspx?tabid=178&nid=21680