Israel in the Crosshairs, PM Netanyahu Warns of “Lots of Noise” In Gaza
This past week, Israel has been the target in inflammatory speech from Iranian officials, a mess of the so called Peace Talks from the US, and rocket fire from Gaza by Islamists.
First it was reported in FarsNews that Lieutenant Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Brigadier General Hossein Salami warned that “we can destroy every spot which is under the Zionist regime’s control with any volume of fire power (that we want) right from here…” when speaking at a conference in Tehran on March 11th.
According to the article, he went on to say that the US or Israeli officials are “totally incapable” of taking any military action against Iran, but at the same time affirmed that any attempts made would compel Iran to consider their options, “Lots of options are on the table for Iran, and they will receive crushing responses, one of which would be elimination of the Zionist regime,” he warned.
While the west, and in particular Israel is used to this kind of rhetoric coming out of Iran and other Islamic dictator states, this was seen as more aggressive than usual since they came a day after Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made news known of a shipment of what was said to be Iranian arms which were intercepted last week. What also make this disturbing is it comes after the latest propaganda computerized videos last month by the Iranian regime which showed Iranian drones and missiles bombing Tel Aviv, Haifa, Ben Gurion Airport, the Dimona nuclear reactor, and also simulated strikes on the US aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, downing US aircraft and striking US military targets in the Persian Gulf in a hypothetical retaliation for an Israeli or American strike on the Islamic Republic.
Keep in mind this is going on while Iran is negotiating with Western nations over their nuclear ‘program’. The March 5-7 talks in Vienna were meant to prepare for the next meeting of chief negotiators due to start on March 18. So, basically the world leaders met for 2 days to discuss when to meet again, as Iran continues to work on enrichment and thumb its nose at the West, especially at the US, as the Obama administration finds itself embroiled in yet another foreign entanglement now that all news focuses on the situation with Russia and the Ukraine.
Then there are the ‘peace’ talks which continue, where the Obama administration through John Kerry have set a deadline for the negotiations to end next month.
It was reported March 10th that while Americans and Israelis continue to demand Palestinian recognition of Israel as a Jewish state, a senior Palestinian Authority official revealed that this issue was no longer the main obstacle to reaching a peace agreement, but the fact that core issues must be accepted by Israel before any talk of peace can move forward.
According to Fatah Central Committee and former member of the Palestinian negotiating team Mohamed Shtayyeh the dispute is over Jerusalem, settlements, refugees and borders, and that Palestinians are determined to go to the United Nations to seek recognition of a Palestinian state once the talks fail.
The US has been talking with Abbas, who is expected to meet with Obama in Washington on the 17th, and he is expected to make it clear that without accepting all Palestinian demands on the core issues there will be no agreement with Israel. Demands insisted upon include full Israeli withdrawal from east Jerusalem, including the Old City, turning it into the capital of a future Palestinian state and pre-1967 lines which would become the borders of a Palestinian state. It has been pointed out that pre 1967 lines would virtually cut the Israeli state’s ability to defend themselves from rockets.
Speaking of rockets, at least 50 Qassam rockets and mortar rounds were fired against Israeli towns and villages and as Red alert signals were given, hundreds of thousands of Israeli citizens ran for shelter.
This was the handiwork of pro-Iranian Palestinian Jihad Islami terror group who according to Debkafile, operates under the direct command of the Iranian Al Quds Brigades commander Gen. Qassem Soleimani.
Prime Minister Netanyahu while at a joint conference with British leader David Cameron responded, “If there is no quiet in our south, no quiet for the residents of Israel, there will be noise, lots of noise in Gaza.”
According to a Times of Israel report, The IDF’s Southern Command chief, Sami Turgeman, said the army had “no intention of showing restraint.” Meanwhile, in Gaza, Hamas officials said they would hold Israel responsible for any “escalation,” and that IDF action would be met with fierce resistance.
David Cameron promised that Britain would stand with Israeli leaders and condemning the attacks he said, “Let me absolutely clear about these attacks from Gaza, we condemn them completely… They are a reminder once again of the importance of maintaining and securing Israel’s future and the security threats you face, and you have Britain’s support in facing those security threats.”
Cameron, who has been in Israel to talk about the EU countries that are pushing the Israeli boycotts, also has said Britain does not support boycotts against the Jewish State.
It’s too bad the US can’t be so firm in their support, as I remember John Kerry’s threats to Israeli leaders last month when he said, “The risks are very high for Israel. People are talking about boycott. That will intensify in the case of failure,” if Israel doesn’t buckle to peace deals forced on them.
Once again with the train wreck of Obama’s foreign policies, meddling in then backing down from situations all over the Middle East and western Asia, America is quickly fallen from a symbol of World leadership and strength to a weakened laughingstock. But then again, Obama has kept his promise on that too.
