Hamas: Any peace deal with Israel would be 'truce'

         Hamas would consider any Palestinian peace deal with Israel as a truce, the Islamist movement's second-in-command Moussa Abu Marzouk said in a rare interview with American Jewish daily Forward. "We will not recognize Israel as a state," he reiterated during an interview conducted over two days in Cairo, where he has lived since leaving Damascus along with most of the Hamas leadership in exile.Abu Marzouk stressed that while under the reconciliation agreement with Fatah leader and Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas, Hamas did not object to the ri

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G8 countries committed to sanctions and pressure over Iran says Obama

             US President Obama said Saturday leaders of the group of 8 major economies are committed to continuing the current approach of sanctions, pressure and diplomatic discussions with Iran over its nuclear program. He told reporters at the G8 Meeting at Camp David: "All of us are firmly committed to continuing with the approach of sanctions and pressure in combination with diplomatic discussions." A US official said Friday that the G8 leaders had agreed that Iran needs to disclose more about its nuclear ambitions. Prime Minist

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            Israel has strongly condemend South Africa's plans to ban the labeling of goods produced in Jewish settlements in Judea and Samaria as "Made in Israel." Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor slammed the decision as having "racist characteristics." The Foreign Ministry said it is preparing to summon the South African ambassador for clarification of the issue. Meanwhile, Denmark is reportedly considering a similar move regarding the marketing of the products produced in settlements. The Danish foreign minister said the step wou

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Iran to Hezbollah: Hands off Israel

            An Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander reportedly ordered Hezbollah not to attack Israel. "Today, the Zionist regime is in total isolation and is facing a serious legitimacy crisis," Maj. Gen. Qassem Suleimani, commander of the Revolutionary Guards' special Quds Force, is quoted as telling Hassan Nasrallah, the commander of Lebanon's Hezbollah terrorist group. "Any attack would depict them as victims and us as unjust aggressors, which would mobilize the public sympathy for them," Suleimani is quoted as saying in remarks tran

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Former intelligence chiefs and military experts say op-ed that stronger sanctions best way to avoid military strike

         Former intelligence chief Meir Dagan joined forces with prominent international intelligence gurus to urge crippling sanctions against Iran in a Wall Street Journal op-ed Thursday. "Our near future carries the risk of a military conflict with Iran, or a nuclear arms race in the already-volatile Middle East," states the piece, co-authored by former CIA head James Woolsey, former German intelligence chief August Hanning, and military experts from the UK, UN and EU. "It is still possible to avoid these outcomes, but only if like-minded nations act

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IDF chief Gantz set to make historic visit to China

        IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Benny Gantz will make a historic visit to Beijing next week for high-level talks with the Chinese defense establishment. Gantz will leave Israel on Saturday night. He will be the guest of Gen. Chen Bingde, chief of the General Staff of the People?s Liberation Army, who visited Israel last August. It was the first time that a Chinese military chief visited the country. During the trip, Gantz will meet with senior Chinese military officers and visit a number of bases. The visit was approved by Defense Minister Ehud Barak an

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Nehushtan to JPost: IAF ready for threats, including Iran

           The Israel Air Force is prepared for the many missions and threats it faces in the Middle East, including a possible operation against Iran?s nuclear facilities, outgoing OC Air Force Maj.-Gen. Ido Nehushtan has told The Jerusalem Post. The exclusive interview, which will appear in Friday?s Magazine, was conducted with Nehushtan ? who has led the IAF for the past four years ? just days before he handed over command to Maj.- Gen. Amir Eshel. ?I understand the missions that stand before the IAF, and we have done everything we

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Illegal structures evacuated in W. Bank outposts

             Security forces evacuated an illegal structure in the West Bank outpost of Ramat Migron in the Binyamin region overnight Wednesday. Police said that the structure did not have the proper permits. Structures in Ramat Migron have been destroyed by authorities and later rebuilt several times. Authorities also evacuated an illegal structure in the nearby outpost of Oz Zion. Six suspects were detained for allegedly disturbing the peace, interfering with a public employee and trespassing in a closed military zone during the eva

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New IAF chief warns enemies not to test Israel

          Maj.-Gen. Amir Eshel took command of the Israel Air Force on Monday, warning Israel?s enemies not to test the IDF and its capabilities. Eshel, who previously headed the IDF Planning Directorate, took command of the IAF from Maj.- Gen. Ido Nehushtan, who had served four years in the post. ?We do not rejoice in battle but if Israel will need to draw its sword, the IAF will be the sharpest of blades,? Eshel said. The appointment of a new air force chief traditionally makes headlines, but this time it is particularly intriguing due to th

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Danino lauds Border Police for foiling terror

          Police Insp.-Gen. Yohanan Danino presented seven Border Police officers and their commander with awards Monday for recently preventing a series of terrorist attacks in the West Bank. The officers, who serve under Border Police company commander Dep.-Cmdr. Avi Biton, foiled no fewer than four attacks in the Tapuah Junction area of the West Bank in under a month. ?At a time when police are under intense public scrutiny, officers are continuing their difficult, uncompromising, challenging work, including the field... of counterterrorism,?

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