-

The Alpha-Omega Report's

-

-

-

Middle East News Spotlight

-

-

-

For January 18, 2010

-

-

-

Reuter's Newswire Services reports that a senior U.S. envoy told the Palestinian president on Thursday that Washington is working hard to find a way to broker a resumption of peace talks with Israel, a senior Palestinian official said.  More details, LINK HERE.

-

+++++++++

-

An editorial in the Washington Times asserts that war between the United States and Iran is drawing closer. Among various factors cited by the editorial suggesting war is a statement by a top US general on contingency planning for war, and Israel beginning a new Civil Defense training program for bio-warfare, and plans to issue gas masks to the entire Israeli population in February.

The Times editorial states that there will not be a single, military strike against Iran but rather - a war. The editorial raises the question of how involved will the US become in this war compared to Israel's involvement. Read the full editorial, LINK HERE.

-

++++++++

-

When U.S General David Petraeus, the head of Centcom, says the American military has drawn up plans to attack Iran’s nuclear programme, it suggests the international crisis over Iran’s refusal to give up its illicit nuclear activities is reaching a critical juncture. Read the full article, LINK HERE.

-

-

-

+++++++++

-

Turkey's Prime Minister warned Lebanese leaders that Israel may be planning an attack on Lebanon. Lebanese government sources reported the incident to a London-based Arab daily newspaper, A-Sharq al-Awsat which published the report last Thursday in London.

At a meeting in Ankara with Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri and President Michel Suleiman on Monday, Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan declared that Israel was endangering world peace by using exaggerated force against the Palestinians, breaching Lebanon's air space and waters and for not revealing the details of its nuclear program.

Until recently, Turkey had been a solid ally of Israel's from the Muslim world. However, Ankara has taken a stance against Israel over last year's war in the Gaza Strip, leading to a deterioration of ties.

Erdogan made his comments on Monday after Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon summoned the Turkish ambassador in Israel for clarification regarding a recent television drama depicting actors dressed as Shin Bet officers who kidnap babies.

During the meeting, Turkey's ambassador was seated in a low sofa, and facing him, in higher chairs, were Ayalon and two other officials - an arrangement carried out at Lieberman's orders.

A photo-op was held at the start of the meeting, during which Ayalon told the photographers in Hebrew: "Pay attention that he is sitting in a
lower chair and we are in the higher ones, that there is only an Israeli flag on the table and that we are not smiling."


For more on this story, LINK HERE.

-

++++++++++

-

Israel and Turkey became embroiled in a diplomatic row over a Turkish TV show portraying Israeli soldiers as baby-killers. Relations between the two nations continue to sour. Full story, LINK HERE.

-

++++++++++

-

-

+++++++++

-

-

++++++++++

-

-

++++

-

-

++++

-

-

++++++++++

-

-

++++++++++

-

-

++++++++++

-

-

+++++++++++

-

-

Israel's attempt to develop an aerial defense against the small rockets launched by Palestinians may take years to deploy according to some sources. Details, LINK HERE.

-

+++++++++++

-

Reuter's Newswire Services reports that Israeli officials are negotiating with Germany to purchase one additional submarine to add to its fleet of 5 Dolphin-class submarines. The effort is part of a new Israeli military build up to deal with Iranian nuclear ambitions.

There are reports that Israel would like to have a total of 9 submarines in its fleet, so that some submarines could be permanently based in the southern Israeli port of Eilat, giving submarines easy access to the Red Sea without traversing Egypt's Suez Canal.

It is believed the the Dolphin-class submarines can carry and launch nuclear-tipped cruise missiles that can be launched while submerged. For more on this story, LINK HERE.

-

++++++++++++

-

-

++++++++++++

-

Israel began to suffer water shortages after the Israeli government agreed to the Oslo Peace Process in 1993. More details on current water crisis. LINK HERE.

-

++++

-

-]

++++

-

-

++++

-

-

+++++++++++++++++++++++

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-