http://www.debka.com/ DEBKAfile, Political Analysis, Espionage, Terrorism, Security en Copyright 2000-2007 DEBKAfile Wed, 23 Jul 2008 23:23:27 +0300 Wed, 23 Jul 2008 23:23:27 +0300 webmaster@debka.com (Debka.com Webmaster) http://www.debka.com/images/logo.gif http://www.debka.com/ <p>Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert told visiting US Senator Barack Obama Wednesday night, July 23 that within little more than a year, Iran would be able to assemble all the components for a nuclear bomb. He said the international penalties to force Iran to give up its nuclear plans must be speeded up without removing the military option from the table. </p><p>Earlier, senior Israeli defense sources reported that Iran is set to receive Russian S-300 anti-air missiles for fighting off strikes against its nuclear facilities by early September, seriously complicating any air attack.</p><p></p> http://www.debka.com/headline.php?hid=5462 Wed, 23 Jul 2008 23:23:27 +0300 <p>Masses of weapons and explosives are cached in the Palestinian villages and districts of Jerusalem, where three Palestinian terrorist networks are working together to coordinate attacks in the city, according to security-intelligence sources. According to <b>DEBKA<i>file</i></b>’s security sources, the Galilee Liberation Brigades – Imad Mughniyeh fighters, an offshoot of the Lebanese Hizballah among Israeli Arabs, works hand in glove with the fiercely radical Hizb al-Tahir and Hamas.</p><p></p> http://www.debka.com/headline.php?hid=5458 Wed, 23 Jul 2008 23:20:04 +0300 <p>Israeli Border Guards troops intercepted a vehicle carrying a 12-kilo explosive charge attached to a gas canister and several pipe bombs outside Kafin village east of the West Bank town of Jenin on Wednesday, July 23. The device which was detonated in a controlled explosion was rigged ready for an attack in central Israel. The three Palestinians in the car got away are being hunted. One was identified as Fadi Kathni, Jihad Islami commander in the Jenin region, who is wanted for plotting a string of terror attacks.</p> http://www.debka.com/headline.php?hid=5460 Wed, 23 Jul 2008 23:20:04 +0300 <p>The Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said in a speech broadcast live on state TV Wednesday, July 23: “The Iranian nation… will not retreat one iota in the face of oppressing powers.” </p><p>In a different tone, he praised US participation in the six-power meeting with Iranian nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili in Geneva Saturday as a “positive step forward” toward recognizing Iran’s right to acquire “nuclear technology.” </p><p>The Iranian president said it would help repair “America’s image in the world.”</p><p>The powers gave Tehran until August 2 to respond to their offer of incentives for halting uranium enrichment or face stiff penalties. </p><p></p><p></p> http://www.debka.com/headline.php?hid=5459 Wed, 23 Jul 2008 23:20:04 +0300 <p>The Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama asserted he would bring “big sticks and big carrots” to make Iran stand down on its nuclear program, but take no option off the table. </p><p>Answering reporters’ questions in the missile-battered southern town of Sderot, </p><p>July 23, Obama stressed that preventing Iran acquiring a nuclear weapon must be of paramount concern for any US administration. It would lead to the disintegration of the non-proliferation regime, other Middle East nations would also obtain nuclear weapons and some would reach terrorists.</p> http://www.debka.com/headline.php?hid=5461 Wed, 23 Jul 2008 23:20:04 +0300 <p>A quick-thinking passing civilian and a border guard officer shot the driver dead Tuesday, July 22, after five vehicles and a bus were rammed opposite the Liberty Bell Park, 200 yards from King David Hotel. At least 29 people were hurt, one seriously. Two are children.</p><p>The Hizballah-sponsored Galilee Liberation Brigades claimed this attack like the first bulldozer rampage of July 2 when another Jerusalem Palestinian killed three people and caused heavy damage on Jerusalem’s Jaffa Street.</p><p></p><p></p> http://www.debka.com/headline.php?hid=5456 Wed, 23 Jul 2008 23:20:04 +0300 <p>The second Palestinian terrorist-attack-by-bulldozer in Jerusalem this month, whereby an Arab terrorist injured 18 people before he was shot dead, took place Tuesday, July 22. And still the Israeli government dithered over whether or not to demolish the home of the originator of this form of rampage, who on July 2 sowed death and destruction on Israel’s Jaffa Street. </p><p></p> http://www.debka.com/headline.php?hid=5457 Wed, 23 Jul 2008 23:20:04 +0300 <p>The internal security agency director Yuval Diskin told Israeli lawmakers Tuesday, July 22, that he opposed the Gaza ceasefire the Israeli government approved with Hamas - and continues to oppose it - because it gave Hamas what it wanted. Diskin warned that Hamas is using the time to sow minefields to stall an Israeli counter-terror operation.</p><p>In a briefing to Knesset foreign affairs and defense committee, Diskin said Hamas' military buildup can only be curbed by an Israeli military presence in the Strip.</p> http://www.debka.com/headline.php?hid=5454 Wed, 23 Jul 2008 23:20:04 +0300 <p>The White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said it expected Iran to “miss an opportunity to accept” the incentives package.</p><p><b>DEBKA<i>file</i></b>’s military sources report that Operational Brimstone, starting Monday, July 21, aimed at giving military teeth to the two-week ultimatum the six world powers gave Iran in Geneva Saturday to accept the suspension of uranium enrichment or face harsh sanctions and isolation. </p><p>The penalty of withholding refined oil products from Iran would be exercised by means of a partial international naval blockade of its Gulf ports. </p><p>Taking part in the 10-day exercise in the Atlantic Ocean are more than a dozen ships and 15,000 sailors.</p> http://www.debka.com/headline.php?hid=5452 Wed, 23 Jul 2008 23:20:04 +0300 <p>Republican presidential candidate, Sen. John McCain told an Israeli Channel Two TV interviewer Monday, July 21, that he is in favor of communications with Iran at different levels, but would object to face-to-face talks with [president Mahmoud] Ahmadinejad who has publicly dedicated himself to destroying Israel.</p><p>The Republican senator spoke shortly before his rival, Democratic Senator Barack Obama, arrived in Israel from Iraq during his foreign tour.</p><p></p> http://www.debka.com/headline.php?hid=5453 Wed, 23 Jul 2008 23:20:04 +0300 <p>Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, told Fox News he is convinced the Iranians are seeking to building an atomic bomb. He stressed the US had the capacity and the reserves to attack Iran as a last resort</p><p><b>DEBKA<i>file</i></b>’s Washington sources stressed the special significance of Mullen’s statement on Sunday, July 20. The night before, a senior Israeli security official said that if the US-Iranian talks failed, President Bush planned to use the three-month period between the November elections in America and his exit from the White House in January for an attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities. </p><p></p> http://www.debka.com/headline.php?hid=5450 Wed, 23 Jul 2008 23:10:03 +0300 <p>This assessment was reported by Israeli national radio Saturday overnight quoting a high-placed “security-political” official. </p><p>The source predicted that President George W. Bush would order Iran attacked between the November 4 presidential election and his exit from the White House in January.</p> http://www.debka.com/headline.php?hid=5447 Wed, 23 Jul 2008 23:20:04 +0300