Happy New Year! I should be getting my new computer soon and will then resume regular updates. It won't be soon enough, my mouse just died.
Afghanistan
Armed Services Committee chief says Obama is ignoring troops in Afghanistan - Jon Harper (Stars and Stripes)
7 Afghans involved in green-on-blue attacks may be freed - Bill Roggio (Long War Journal)
As Egyptians are voting on their new constitution today, I urge you to take a look at a new documentary available on Netflix this week: The Square. We had the privilege to see it in a theater and attend a Q&A with the director, Jehane Noujaim. It made me feel very hopeful for the Egyptian people. It's my understanding that one of the biggest problems with the new constitution is that it allows military tribunals for civilians.
With Muslim Brotherhood Crushed, Egypt Sets Sights on Hamas - Yasmine Saleh (Reuters)
Checkout this video and report from Richard Spencer in Cairo (The Telegraph)
U.S.: Iran Permitted to Continue Advanced Centrifuge Work (Washington Free Beacon) The White House confirmed on Monday that Iran would be permitted to continue developing advanced nuclear centrifuges that will enable it to more quickly enrich uranium under the interim nuclear deal reached over the weekend, according to senior Obama administration officials.
U.S. Concerned about Iran-Russia Oil Deal - Roberta Rampton (Reuters)
Iranian Spy Caught Sending Stolen U.S. Documents on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter - Chris Dolmetsch (Bloomberg)
In “honor” of the death of Israel's 11th prime minister, Ariel Sharon, the press is bandying about old canards, especially relating to the 2000 intifada. Ariel Sharon's visit to the Temple Mount did not cause the intifada. Further, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak accepted the US President's proposal of a West Bank and Gaza Strip state in exchange for peace, the same proposal that the Palestinians (Arafat) rejected.The leader of the intifada, Marwan Barghouti has confirmed, as did other Palestinian officials, that the uprising had been planned previously and Sharon’s visit merely provided the pretext. It was planned by the Palestinians because Arafat himself had rejected the peace process. As per Palestinian Communications Minister Imad Al-Faluji in March 2001, (translated by MEMRI): Whoever thinks that the Intifada broke out because of the despised Sharon’s visit to the Al-Aqsa Mosque is wrong.. . . This Intifada was planned in advance, ever since President Arafat’s return from the Camp David negotiations, where he turned the table upside down on President Clinton.
Defense Minister Ya'alon: "Whoever Really Wants Peace Needs to Speak about Co-existence" - Ariel Kahane (Makor Rishon-Hebrew, 20 Dec 2013)
Jordan Fears Getting Stuck with the Palestinian Refugees (Ma'ariv-Hebrew-8 Jan 2014)
PA leader: Stages plan to eliminate Israel is basis of PA policy- Itamar Marcus and Nan Jacques Zilberdik (PMW)
Is Abbas Being Asked to Sign His Death Warrant? - Ali Salim (Gatestone Institute)
Iran Increases Aid to Palestinian Terror Group - Hazem Balousha (Al-Monitor)
Fatah Leader Jibril Rajoub Viciously Attacks Israel (Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center)
Turkey
Turkish counterterrorism raids target al Islamic charity, net al Qaeda operatives - Lisa Lundquist (Long War Journal)
Hillel is a non-profit working with college students with the goal of supporting Jewish values including support for Israel. They're in the news this week because they've clarified their polices and won't allow their chapters to sponsor those who attack and delegitimize Israel - it would be a misuse of the donor dollars. See this link for more information: http://honestreporting.com/its-not-about-free-speech/
Obama withholds from Israel details of nuclear accord with Iran: Tehran denies dismantling its program (Debkafile)
Anti-Israel Lessons in American Classrooms - Charles Jacobs (Jerusalem Post)
