The Jewish Reporter » Middle East

SYRIA TOPS OBAMA, PUTIN CHAT

Gary — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 20:26:05 +0000

They don’t agree on the U.S. decision to arm the Syrian rebels. Clearly, Russia backs the regime. But in their meeting at the G8 summit near Belfast, President Obama and Russian President Putin found some common ground. Both say they want the violence in Syria to end. Read more here.

ISRAELI SOURCE: RUSSIA ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN SYRIAN WAR

Gary — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 19:52:35 +0000

Al Arabiya, citing an Israeli security force, reports that Russia’s objections to the United States arming the rebels goes beyond Moscow’s long-standing relationship with Damascus. The source has told the news site that Russia is “actively engaged” in the war, in support of the Assad regime. Read more here.

POLL: AMERICANS DON’T APPROVE OF AID TO SYRIAN REBELS

Gary — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 18:05:26 +0000

A slight majority of Americans – 54% – disapprove of the Obama administration’s decision to send direct military aid to Syrian rebels fighting against the Syrian government, while 37% approve. Read more here.

ISRAEL, JORDAN, US MAY BE PREPARING STRIKE ON SYRIA’S CHEMICAL WEAPONS

Gary — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:10:35 +0000

Time Magazine reports that Israel, Jordan and the United States are preparing to eliminate Syria’s stockpile of chemical weapons. Read more here.

TURKEY CONTEMPLATES USING TROOPS AGAINST PROTESTERS

Gary — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 15:36:52 +0000

So far the police have been in charged of putting the protests in Turkey down. But now, the government is threatening to deploy troops if the cops can’t handle it. This comes as two unions are conducting a one-day strike in support of the demonstrators. Read more here.

PALIN: LET ALLAH SORT SYRIA OUT

Gary — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 23:42:38 +0000

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin criticized President Obama while speaking at the annual meeting of the Faith and Freedom Coalition, saying the United States should not intervene in Syria while he’s in office.

“Until we have a commander in chief who knows what he is doing … let Allah sort it out!” Palin told the conservative crowd. See the video here.

NEW YORK-BOUND EGYPTIAN AIRLINER DIVERTED AFTER THREATENING NOTE FOUND

Gary — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 16:37:12 +0000

British aircraft were scrambled to intercept and escort an EgyptAir flight from Cairo to JFK after a passenger found a note threatening to blow up the plane. The note was discovered in a restroom. The plane, Flight 985, landing safely in Glasgow.

TURKEY’S PM ORDERS PROTESTERS OUT OF PARK, ‘OR ELSE’

Gary — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 16:31:15 +0000

Turkey‘s prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, delivered a stark “final warning” on Thursday to thousands of defiant protesters still camped out in Istanbul’s Gezi park, demanding that they end their occupation.

Describing the protesters as troublemakers, Erdoğan said the government had reached the “end of its patience” over the continuing demonstrations against his leadership, in which five people have been killed since 31 May. Erdoğan had earlier issued a 24-hour deadline to clear Taksim Square and Gezi park. Read more here.

MODERATE CLERIC WINS IRAN’S PRESIDENTIAL RACE

Gary — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 16:25:52 +0000

Hassan Rouhani, the most moderate of the six candidates running for president of Iran, appeared to be headed toward outright victory Saturday after a larger-than-expected voter turnout.

Rouhani, the only cleric in the race, had more than 51 percent of the votes with about 90 percent of the precincts reporting by Saturday evening. However, there has been no official announcement on the winner yet, and no candidate has made any claim of success. Read more here.

REPORTS: U.S. TO START ARMING SYRIAN REBELS

Gary — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 15:42:25 +0000

Published reports suggest the United States is preparing to provide lethal assistance to Syrian rebels. Something the administration has averted doing until now.

What prompted the change in policy? A determination by the White House that the Syrian government has used chemical weapons on its own people. President Obama had previously said that the use of chemical weapons would result in a greater response from the United States.