For second night, violent protests rock Lebanese capital

Security forces use tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannons to disperse demonstrators who railed against expected reappointment of Saad Hariri as PM HUSSEIN MALLADALAL MAWAD BEIRUT (AP) — Lebanese security forces fired tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannons Sunday to disperse hundreds of protesters for a second straight day, ending what started as […]

Hamas delegation tells Erdogan of Gaza’s dire situation, Temple Mount ‘danger’

Officials led by Ismail Haniyeh praise the Turkish president for supporting the Palestinians, the terror group’s website reports; Al-Aqsa TV says Haniyeh to attend Malaysia summit By Adam Rasgon 15 December 2019, 1:31 pm Adam Rasgon is the Palestinian affairs reporter at The Times of Israel A Hamas delegation led by its chief, Ismail Haniyeh, […]

Erdogan threatens to shutter 2 strategic US military bases

Turkish president responds to threat of US sanctions over Ankara’s decision to buy Russian S-400 missile defense system By AFP Today, 11:03 pm   Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday threatened to close two strategic military bases used by the United States in Turkey, after Washington warned Ankara of sanctions for buying Russian arms. […]

Turkey to sign off on military pledge to Libya

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan Libya’s Prime Minister Fayez Al-Sarraj signed an expanded security and military accord last month. (Reuters) ISTANBUL: Turkey moved closer to military support for Libya’s internationally recognized government late on Saturday when a bilateral deal that provides for a quick reaction force if requested by Tripoli was sent to parliament. Ankara’s latest […]

The Magi Christmas 2019

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Nasrallah blocks ex-PM Hariri’s demand for nonpartisan government

Dec 15, 2019 @ 18:38 While Beirut is rocked by violent protests and a government crackdown, former Lebanese PM Saad Hariri stands by his demand for a government of technocrats to lead the country out of a two-month wave of protests. Hizballah leader Hassan Nasrallah insists on a government representing all the national communities. President […]

Iran’s IRGC: The Persian Gulf belongs to us

“We have the right to question any vessels entering the Straits of Hormuz and Iranian territorial waters,” naval commander Admiral Alireza Tangsiri said. SETH J. FRANTZMAN DECEMBER 15, 2019 18:27 The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps naval commander Admiral Alireza Tangsiri said the Persian Gulf belongs to Iran. “We have the right to question any vessels […]

Could Syria become Iran’s ‘Vietnam’?

This is one of the ironies of Iran’s role in the region. SETH J. FRANTZMAN DECEMBER 15, 2019 17:31 Last week Israel’s new defense minister Naftali Bennett warned Iran that although it appeared to be establishing a ring of fire around Israel, that in fact Syria could be Iran’s Vietnam. “We need to move from […]

Spotlight on Iran December 1 –15, 2019 Editor: Dr. Raz Zimmt

ImageSat, December 10, 2019 The Chairman of the Joint Iranian-Syrian Economic Committee, Kivan Kashefi (Source: IRNA, December 4, 2019) Iranian pilgrims visit Iraq as part of the ‘Arbayeen ceremonies (Fars, October 12, 2019) Full document in PDF format Overview Iran is continuing to try to minimize the impact of the ongoing protests in Iraq on […]

Brazil will move embassy to Jerusalem, president’s son says

The Brazilian president said he would move the embassy before and after he was elected, but backed down from the promise earlier this year. LAHAV HARKOV DECEMBER 15, 2019 15:05 Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro will move his country’s embassy to Jerusalem, his son, MP Eduardo Bolsonaro said Sunday at the opening of a Brazilian trade […]

Arrangements Committee: Netanyahu’s immunity can be discussed with Knesset Speaker approval

Moran Azoulay Updated: 12.15.19 , 14:55 Knesset Arrangements Committee approved on Sunday a decision stating that it could discuss the issue of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s immunity, subject to the approval of the Speaker of the Knesset Yuli Edelstein and after receiving the opinion of the Knesset Legal Advisor.

Iran arrests evangelical Christians before Christmas holiday

The Iranian regime has begun cracking down on evangelical Christians in Iran in the run-up to Christmas, experts and Iranian Christians said. Security officials routinely arrest Christian citizens during the Christmas season, according to the 2019 US Commission for International Religious Freedom report, which found the regime arrested 114 Christians during the first week of […]