[Elder of Ziyon] 7/25 Links Part 1: Bulgaria Names Bombing Suspects, Kontorovich on EU Rules, Syria Kills 15 More Pals

From Ian:

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Eugene Kontorovich: What the EU rules are about – and what they are not

Nor is this about the Palestinians – the rules also bar funding of any organization connected to the Golan Heights. It is not clear which Syria the Europeans think Israel should surrender the entire Golan to, Assad or his Islamist foes, but this broad and unreasonable restriction has nothing to do with "the occupation." It also has nothing to do with "settlements" in the West Bank; any Israeli institution with a presence in Eastern Jerusalem is blacklisted.
But most importantly, the EU policy is not about international law, which the guidelines repeatedly claim requires such action. Even if one thinks Israelis residing in the West Bank raises international law concerns, this has nothing to do with the new European rules.

'Settlers' Answer Kerry – in Washington

Samaria leaders established their own Foreign Ministry earlier this year after realizing that other groups were not going to take the lead in promoting Israeli communities in the region.
Its delegates met with more than 20 U.S. Senators and Members of Congress. "We opened a very crucial door to the world of the United States of America, to many Congressmen, many Senate members, who right now are willing to listen," Shay Attias, Samaria's Chairman of Foreign Affairs, told Arutz Sheva.

Netanyahu: We're Ready to Talk Peace Right Away

Speaking during a meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida, Netanyahu said, "We both want to see peace between Israel and the Palestinians. I hope that soon we will be able to see the beginning of peace talks.
"Our team is ready – we've always been ready," Netanyahu added. "And I want to thank Japan for its support for peace, specifically for the project called 'The Corridor for Peace and Prosperity' in the Jordan Rift. This is something that is a Japanese initiative that works together with Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority for the economic advancement of everyone and I think it shows that regional cooperation can work, that it can make a tangible difference."

'Peace Talks? The Mideast is Going Up in Flames'

Nobel Prize winner Professor Yisrael Aumann is baffled by the decision to return to negotiations with the Palestinian Authority. It is obvious that peace talks with PA Chairman Abbas are meaningless, he told Arutz Sheva.
"This whole matter of diplomatic negotiations is absurd. The whole Middle East is going up in flames, there's chaos in Syria, Egypt, and Iraq – and the Americans are only worried about us," he said.

Bereaved Parents Horrified by Terrorist Release

"He was my heart," his mother said. She has been thinking about her son "for twenty-three years, every day, every second," she said.
Both parents expressed fury and consternation at the decision to free the murderers. The same men who killed Ronen and Lior in cold blood murdered two other men as well, Eliyahu noted, and they were supposed to serve four life terms.
"Nowhere else on earth do you see this, that a person who got four life sentences plus twenty years is released before completing a single life sentence," he charged. "Why? Based on what?"

BBC guest 'expert' is 'Veterans Today', 'Rense' contributor

In addition to some aggressive anti-Americanism, Narwani peddles anti-Israel, pro Assad, pro-Iranian regime and pro-Hizballah rhetoric. As well as having blogged at the Huffington Post - until her pro-Assad stance apparently became too much - Narwani has written for the Guardian and the pro-Hizballah/pro-Assad Lebanese outlet Al Akhbar English.
She also appears to have something of an affinity with antisemitic conspiracy theorists, writing for the 'Veterans Today' website – which has links, via its editor, to Iran's Press TV – and its sister site 'Veterans News Now' (I won't link to those sites: do a search), as well as – according to her Twitter account – recently appearing on Rense Radio.

Israel Angered by U.S. Leaks of Submarine Missile Attack on Syria

Israeli government officials voiced anger at U.S. press leaks traced to the Pentagon following the July 5 Israeli missile attack on the Syrian port of Latakia that destroyed a shipment of Russian-made anti-ship missiles, according to U.S. officials.
Senior Pentagon officials, including Deputy Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter who is currently visiting Israel, discussed the leaks during meetings with Israeli officials this week. The Israelis argued in private meetings and other exchanges that the disclosures could lead to Syrian counterattacks against Israel and should have been coordinated first with the Israeli government.

PMW: Fatah honors arch-terrorist by proudly listing 61 of his murders

Fatah glorifies terrorist Abdallah Barghouti as "brave prisoner" because he prepared the bombs for suicide terror attacks that:
- "killed 15 Zionists" at Sbarro restaurant
- "killed 11 Zionists" at Moment Café
- "killed 15 Zionists" at Sheffield Night Club
- "killed 9 Zionists" at Hebrew University
- "killed 11 Zionists" at the Ben Yehuda pedestrian mall

Israel's eastern front, the coming storm

Amid uncertainty on Israel's eastern front, one thing will be certain if and when the king falls: Jordan's next ruler will be a Palestinian.
Those who care for peace and Israel's eastern borders should try to prepare for the coming storm and ride the freedom train to help put the right engineer in the front carriage.
The clock is ticking.

US delays delivery of F-16s to Egypt

The delay was the first direct action the US has taken since the Egyptian military ousted Morsi and installed a new civilian government. Under US law, military aid to a country that underwent a coup d'etat must be suspended. But the Obama administration says it is still trying to determine if what happened three weeks ago in Egypt was in fact a coup. Egypt is a key ally in the Middle East and the administration is reluctant to cut off the $1.3 billion aid package it sends to Cairo every year.

Egypt: Arrest Warrants Against Muslim Brotherhood Leaders

Arrest warrants were issued on Wednesday for nine Muslim Brotherhood officials in Egypt, including leader Mohammed Badie, CNN reported, citing Egypt's official news agency.
General prosecutor Hisham Barakat ordered the leaders' arrests for "ordering armed groups to cut off highways and threaten violence in the city of Qalyub, spreading violence and damaging public interest," the MENA news agency reported.

Muslim Brotherhood Leader Calls For U.S. Embassy Siege in Cairo

American diplomats could find themselves in the Muslim Brotherhood's crosshairs now that Essam el-Erian, the Vice President of the Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party, has called on protesters to besiege the U.S. Embassy in Cairo.
El-Erian blames the U.S. government for the Egyptian military's July 3 decision to overthrow President Mohammed Morsi. American policies have been roundly criticized by both pro- and anti-Morsi forces in the days since Morsi was deposed.

Three Egyptian militants killed by their own bomb, security source says

Three militants were killed on Wednesday in Egypt's Sinai peninsula when their car bomb went off before they arrived to their intended targets, a security official said.

Bulgaria names 2 suspects in Burgas bus bombing

The Bulgarian authorities have released the names of two people believed to be involved in the Burgas bus bomb terrorist attack last year that killed five Israelis and their Bulgarian bus driver according to the Bulgarian news agency Focus.
The two were identified as 32-year-old Australian citizen Meliad Farah, also known as Hussein Hussein, and 25-year old Canadian Citizen Hassan El Hajj Hassan.

No, Hezbollah Isn't a "Stabilizing" Force

Hezbollah has been fighting on the side of Bashar al-Assad, and the West's desire to see the fall of the house of Assad convinced both the EU and the U.S. to take steps toward that end. But in an essay at Foreign Policy's website, RAND analyst Julie Taylor makes an unconventional–and, in the end, terribly unconvincing–argument: leave Hezbollah alone, because you won't like them when they're angry. Taylor's case rests on the idea that Hezbollah is showing restraint and maintaining a precarious, mostly nonviolent, state of affairs within Lebanon. Push them too far, and they'll be tempted to show their strength, Hezbollah-style:

Hezbollah burying hundreds of its fighters in Syria, rebels claim

Hezbollah has buried hundreds of its fighters in mass graves in Syria to avoid a backlash from the victims' families and maintain high morale among its combatants, Syrian oppositionists claimed on Wednesday.

Syrian Rebels Ambush, Trap, Shell 50 Truck Hezbollah Convoy (VIDEO)

The video shows rebel forces firing rocket launchers and tank mortars from a hilltop at the convoy, which, according to the rebels, was headed to reinforce Hezbollah legions on the civil war's front lines.
The convoy included fuel and ammunition trucks, and, if at capacity, up to 500 Hezbollah soldiers.

Activists: Syria government rocket attack kills 15 Palestinian refugees

Forces loyal to President Bashar Assad killed at least 15 Palestinians, mostly women and children, in a rocket attack on a rebel-held refugee camp on the southern edge of Damascus on Wednesday, opposition activists said.
Palestinian militia from the pro-Assad Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command (PFLP-GC) as well as Syrian army and intelligence troops have been surrounding the camp for months.

Russia to Offer Iran an Air Defense System

Vladimir Putin is a nice guy. If you make a deal to buy a Russian air defense system–like Syria did–he will keep his promise to get the system delivered, even if the entire world begs him not to.
Or if your country is facing crippling sanctions because it's building an illicit nuclear program that the international community vehemently opposes–like Iran is–don't worry, Putin will come visit and lend a hand in reviving the fruitless negotiations over the program. And, for the right price, Putin will even sell you a sophisticated air defense system…you know…for good luck.

Turkey: Israeli Compensation for Marmara Victims Not Enough

On Wednesday, Turkey's Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc said that his country will not be satisfied with Israel simply paying compensation to the Marmara victims. The Jewish state, he said, must acknowledge that the money it is paying to the victims is a result of its committing a wrongful act.

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Posted By Ian to Elder of Ziyon at 7/25/2013 12:00:00 PM