Israel Update for February 2010

Officials had hoped the 46 page missive would be enough to convince the UN head that Israel took the UN allegations quite seriously. They noted the letter revealed that the IDF had conducted probes into over 150 reported human rights violations, of which 36 were actual criminal investigations. As part of that process, over 100 Palestinians were questioned, along with field IDF officers and many others. Some soldiers have already been prosecuted or otherwise disciplined for verified conduct violations, they noted.

In stark contrast to this, Hamas leaders went back on a public indication last year that that they were "sorry" Israeli civilians had been hit by Hamas rocket fire during the conflict. Israeli officials had earlier scoffed at the half hearted apology, delivered by a Hamas spokesman, noting that thousands of Palestinian Kassam rockets have been deliberately aimed at civilian communities for many years, especially at the besieged Israeli town of Sderot.

Israeli leaders were not over thrilled when the Kremlin extended an official invitation in February to overall Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal to visit Moscow. Few details were released about his discussions mid month with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Unlike Russia, Israeli and American leaders believe Hamas is a major obstacle to ongoing peace moves in the region, not a potential peace partner.

Mashaal later told the London-based Al Hayat newspaper that if conflict breaks out again between his extremist group and Israel, it "will not be limited this time to the Gaza Strip, but will engulf the entire region." A similar statement was made during February by Lebanese Hizbullah militia leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah, who said any action between his group and Israel will spark off a greater Middle East war.

It sounded a bit like war in the centre of Jerusalem in late February after Palestinian Muslims threw stones at Jewish worshipers at the Western Wall just below the Temple Mount. Israeli police then stormed the sacred site, sparking off fierce clashes in many parts of the Old City.

The violence began earlier in the week in Hebron after PA leader Abbas claimed the Israeli government's designation of the Tomb of the Patriarchs in the city as a "national heritage site" was an attempt to take it over and push Muslim worshipers out the door. PA leaders also protested a similar designation for Rachel's Tomb in Bethlehem. PM Netanyahu said the designation would herald no actual changes on the ground. But analysts said it was a clear indication he has no intention of abandoning the widely revered ancient Jewish holy sites as part of any final peace deal with the Palestinians.

Front And Centre

The Israeli Premier visited the Kremlin mid month, meeting with senior Russian officials including Vladimir Putin. Coming in the wake of Iran's announcement that it had begun enriching its uranium stockpile up to 20%-bringing it much closer to weapons grade material-it was no surprise that the main topic of discussion was the growing nuclear threat Iran poses to Israel, and the role Russia is playing in that unnerving reality.

During a post-meeting news conference with Putin, the Israel leader stated rather cryptically that "Russia understands the Iranian problem." He added that tougher economic sanctions must be enacted against the rogue Shiite Iranian regime, specifically targeting Iran's vital energy sector. This came after Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Al Faisal indicated that the United States might need to take imminent military action to halt Iran's outlawed nuclear programme. He told a news conference in the presence of visiting American Secretary of State Hillary Clinton that "sanctions are a long-term solution, but we see the issue in the shorter term because we are closer to the threat," adding that "We need immediate resolution rather than gradual resolution."

Soon after Netanyahu returned from Moscow, Russian officials announced that delivery of the advanced S-300 anti missile system, purchased several years ago by Iran, would be further delayed due to unspecified "technical problems." Israeli officials have long argued that the sophisticated system should never be handed over to the Shiite clerical regime. Meanwhile a German newspaper quoted an internal Atomic Energy Agency memo stating that an unnamed Russian nuclear scientist is secretly helping Iranian engineers develop nuclear warheads.

War Of Words

PM Netanyahu also used his Moscow visit to denounce recent Iranian claims that Israel is preparing for an imminent military offensive in the region. He said no such assault is on the table. His comment came just days after Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad claimed to possess information that "Israel is seeking to start a war next spring or summer," boasting that "the resistance and regional states will finish them off if this fake regime does anything again."

The notorious Iranian leader-miraculously re-elected as president last June when he somehow captured more votes than there are registered voters in his country-did not specify who Israel would purportedly attack during such an offensive. The Reuters news agency reported that he told Syrian dictator Bashar Assad by telephone that Israel would be "finished off once and for all" if it launches any military assault. Assad himself earlier joined Hizbullah leader Nasrallah and Turkish Premier Recep Erdogan in contending that Israel is planning to attack Shiite forces in Lebanon this coming May. The Syrian leader said his substantial armed forces would actively defend Iranian-commanded Hizbullah militiamen in any such operation. The Lebanese government echoed this ominous statement. The hostile words were repeated during a summit meeting that Assad hosted in Damascus late in the month with Ahmadinejad and Nasrallah.

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak sparked off an earlier exchange of verbal blasts when he stated that "all out war" could break out unless negotiations with Syria were seriously pursued by Israel. Apparently misinterpreting this as a military threat, President Assad charged that Israel was "leading the region to war." Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Al Moallem then ominously stated that "the next war will be waged inside your cities." Foreign Minister Lieberman reacted by strongly hinting at massive Israeli retaliation following any Syrian missile blitz on Israeli civilian areas, telling Assad that "not only will you lose the war, you and your family will no longer be in power." Opposition politicians claimed Lieberman spoke too strongly, with some demanding he be sacked.

As Israel's enemies rant and rave, and with a looming nuclear threat hanging over their heads, the Israeli people need to call upon their Sovereign Lord like never before-the One who promises that during the biblically prophesied end of days, "Man will have regard for his Maker, and his eyes will look to the Holy One of Israel" (Isaiah 17:7).