20 sept 2018
Following Hassan Nasrallah’s speech where he claimed to have acquired 'highly accurate' missiles, Netanyahu warns Israeli response to Lebanon terror group's aggression will be on an 'unimaginable' scale; prime minister also stresses importance of security cooperation with Russia following downing of plane.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded on Tuesday to Hezbollah's Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah’s threats, warning that a devastating Israeli retaliation would follow if the terror group decides to launch an attack on Israeli territory.
"If they confront us, they will suffer a crushing blow the levels of which they cannot imagine," exclaimed the prime minister during an event at the Prime Minister's Office.
Netanyahu’s statement comes as a response to the Hezbollah leader’s remarks, made earlier in the day, boasting that the group possesses “highly accurate” missiles despite Israeli attempts to prevent it from acquiring such weapons.
"I heard the arrogant words that came from the Hezbollah chief. This comes from the same man who said after 2006 that if he had known what Israel's response would be to the abduction of three of our soldiers, he would have thought twice about doing it," Netanyahu vented.
The prime minister also addressed the downing of a Russian plane, which was initially attributed to the IDF.
"Regarding our relations with Russia, I spoke with President Putin on the eve of Yom Kippur, and expressed regret for the loss of 15 Russian air crew members, whose plane was shot down by the Syrian army,” stressed Netanyahu.
“This is Iran's attempt to use Syrian territory to launch attacks on Israel and to arm our enemies such as Hezbollah,” the prime minister went on to say before adding that he emphasized to the Russian president that Israel has “the right to self defense.”
Netanyahu then underlined the importance of preserving the security cooperation between the two states.
“It is very important to preserve the security coordination between Israel and Russia, which is why I decided to send Maj. Gen. Amikam Norkin to Moscow with a dual-purpose of continuing to protect our citizens and to continue the security cooperation between the two countries," the prime minister concluded.
On Thursday afternoon, Hassan Nasrallah spoke in a televised speech to supporters commemorating Ashoura, one of the most important religious holy days for Shi'ite Muslims.
Nasrallah says Israel knows the regional balance of power has changed, and that recent Israeli strikes in Syria to prevent Hezbollah from acquiring those weapons failed because this “has already been achieved.”
He says Hezbollah now has “highly accurate ... missiles” and that, should Israel impose a war on Lebanon, “it will face a fate and a reality it never expected on any day.”
"No matter what you do to cut the route, the matter is over and the resistance possesses precision and non-precision rockets and weapons capabilities," Nasrallah said, addressing Israel in the broadcast speech while claiming that he was not speaking from a bunker.
“They laugh at me and say I am threatening from a bunker. I am obviously not inside a bunker. I am in a specific place and the fact that I am here giving a speech proves that you are trying day and night to kill me and are only failing,” he said.
“The Israelis are angry and worried that their efforts are failing,” Nasrallah said at the opening of his remarks.
“Israel is scared of every war. They understand that a war against us will have numerous consequences in the region. Their weak points are exposed and they know about our strength,” he declared.
“In 1973, the war was on the front at a time when people in Tel Aviv would drink coffee and read the papers. Now, everything is different. I say to Israel: be careful. Everything you have done up until this point is finished … Israel understands that war cannot be won with technology. The human element will decide the war,” Nasrallah said.
“In 1982 Israel threatened to occupy Beirut. Who speaks about that today?” Nasrallah asked. “Since 2006 no Israeli has said ‘we will invade Lebanon and get to Beirut’ because such an operation requires ground forces. That cannot be done with an air force. Israel no longer has an army that can occupy land. Therefore, every Israeli threat focuses on the power of fire and not on the human power.”
Hezbollah, backed by Iran, has played a critical role in supporting Syrian President Bashar Assad during Syria's seven-year-long civil war.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded on Tuesday to Hezbollah's Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah’s threats, warning that a devastating Israeli retaliation would follow if the terror group decides to launch an attack on Israeli territory.
"If they confront us, they will suffer a crushing blow the levels of which they cannot imagine," exclaimed the prime minister during an event at the Prime Minister's Office.
Netanyahu’s statement comes as a response to the Hezbollah leader’s remarks, made earlier in the day, boasting that the group possesses “highly accurate” missiles despite Israeli attempts to prevent it from acquiring such weapons.
"I heard the arrogant words that came from the Hezbollah chief. This comes from the same man who said after 2006 that if he had known what Israel's response would be to the abduction of three of our soldiers, he would have thought twice about doing it," Netanyahu vented.
The prime minister also addressed the downing of a Russian plane, which was initially attributed to the IDF.
"Regarding our relations with Russia, I spoke with President Putin on the eve of Yom Kippur, and expressed regret for the loss of 15 Russian air crew members, whose plane was shot down by the Syrian army,” stressed Netanyahu.
“This is Iran's attempt to use Syrian territory to launch attacks on Israel and to arm our enemies such as Hezbollah,” the prime minister went on to say before adding that he emphasized to the Russian president that Israel has “the right to self defense.”
Netanyahu then underlined the importance of preserving the security cooperation between the two states.
“It is very important to preserve the security coordination between Israel and Russia, which is why I decided to send Maj. Gen. Amikam Norkin to Moscow with a dual-purpose of continuing to protect our citizens and to continue the security cooperation between the two countries," the prime minister concluded.
On Thursday afternoon, Hassan Nasrallah spoke in a televised speech to supporters commemorating Ashoura, one of the most important religious holy days for Shi'ite Muslims.
Nasrallah says Israel knows the regional balance of power has changed, and that recent Israeli strikes in Syria to prevent Hezbollah from acquiring those weapons failed because this “has already been achieved.”
He says Hezbollah now has “highly accurate ... missiles” and that, should Israel impose a war on Lebanon, “it will face a fate and a reality it never expected on any day.”
"No matter what you do to cut the route, the matter is over and the resistance possesses precision and non-precision rockets and weapons capabilities," Nasrallah said, addressing Israel in the broadcast speech while claiming that he was not speaking from a bunker.
“They laugh at me and say I am threatening from a bunker. I am obviously not inside a bunker. I am in a specific place and the fact that I am here giving a speech proves that you are trying day and night to kill me and are only failing,” he said.
“The Israelis are angry and worried that their efforts are failing,” Nasrallah said at the opening of his remarks.
“Israel is scared of every war. They understand that a war against us will have numerous consequences in the region. Their weak points are exposed and they know about our strength,” he declared.
“In 1973, the war was on the front at a time when people in Tel Aviv would drink coffee and read the papers. Now, everything is different. I say to Israel: be careful. Everything you have done up until this point is finished … Israel understands that war cannot be won with technology. The human element will decide the war,” Nasrallah said.
“In 1982 Israel threatened to occupy Beirut. Who speaks about that today?” Nasrallah asked. “Since 2006 no Israeli has said ‘we will invade Lebanon and get to Beirut’ because such an operation requires ground forces. That cannot be done with an air force. Israel no longer has an army that can occupy land. Therefore, every Israeli threat focuses on the power of fire and not on the human power.”
Hezbollah, backed by Iran, has played a critical role in supporting Syrian President Bashar Assad during Syria's seven-year-long civil war.
Hezbollah’s leader has warned Israel of a fate it “has never expected” if it chooses to wage a new war, reminding the regime that the Lebanese resistance movement is now in possession of precision rockets to Tel Aviv’s dismay.
Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah made the comments during a Thursday speech in Beirut to a large crowd of mourners marking Ashura, the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein, the third Shia Imam.
He further said the balance of power in the region has changed in favor of the anti-Israel axis of resistance, and that the Tel Aviv regime has failed in all its attempts to prevent Lebanon’s Hezbollah from achieving precision rockets.
“No matter what you do to cut the route, the matter is over and the resistance possesses precision and non-precision rockets and weapons capabilities,” Nasrallah said.
“All your attempts to prevent Hezbollah from possessing accurate missiles are foiled,” he added.
The Hezbollah chief further warned Israel against opting for yet another act of aggression against his country and said, “If Israel imposes a war on Lebanon, Israel will face a fate and a reality it has never expected on any day.”
He also pointed to the growing power of the resistance front, stressing that the Israelis “had pinned their hopes on the course of developments in Syria and Iraq, but they know that the axis of resistance has returned stronger than ever, and new countries have now joined it.”
Therefore, he added, the Israeli regime is afraid of any conflict in the region, especially against Lebanon, and is well informed that any war would have dire consequences.
Tel Aviv is well aware that its weaknesses have been revealed to Hezbollah, and is well aware of our strengths, he added. “Israel is aware that technology alone cannot be decisive in a war.”
Hezbollah to stand by Iran, Palestine, Yemen, Bahrain
The Hezbollah chief further expressed the movement's support for the Islamic Republic of Iran in the face of “all kinds of economic and political pressure,” saying that “it is our duty to stand by Iran” as a new wave of anti-Iran American sanctions is returning.
Iran is being punished by the US only because it refused to give in to Washington's demands, and because it is keeping up its support for the oppressed nations in the region, including Palestine and Syria.
He further reiterated the movement's support for the Palestinian cause, reiterating Hezbollah’s objection to the so-called “deal of the century” which the US administration is drawing up on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Nasrallah also noted that Hezbollah firmly stands by the Yemeni nation, which has been under attack by the Saudi regime and a coalition of its allies.
“We reiterate our support to peaceful people of Bahrain whose scholars and youths have been jailed and suppressed by the Bahraini regime,” he added.
Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah made the comments during a Thursday speech in Beirut to a large crowd of mourners marking Ashura, the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein, the third Shia Imam.
He further said the balance of power in the region has changed in favor of the anti-Israel axis of resistance, and that the Tel Aviv regime has failed in all its attempts to prevent Lebanon’s Hezbollah from achieving precision rockets.
“No matter what you do to cut the route, the matter is over and the resistance possesses precision and non-precision rockets and weapons capabilities,” Nasrallah said.
“All your attempts to prevent Hezbollah from possessing accurate missiles are foiled,” he added.
The Hezbollah chief further warned Israel against opting for yet another act of aggression against his country and said, “If Israel imposes a war on Lebanon, Israel will face a fate and a reality it has never expected on any day.”
He also pointed to the growing power of the resistance front, stressing that the Israelis “had pinned their hopes on the course of developments in Syria and Iraq, but they know that the axis of resistance has returned stronger than ever, and new countries have now joined it.”
Therefore, he added, the Israeli regime is afraid of any conflict in the region, especially against Lebanon, and is well informed that any war would have dire consequences.
Tel Aviv is well aware that its weaknesses have been revealed to Hezbollah, and is well aware of our strengths, he added. “Israel is aware that technology alone cannot be decisive in a war.”
Hezbollah to stand by Iran, Palestine, Yemen, Bahrain
The Hezbollah chief further expressed the movement's support for the Islamic Republic of Iran in the face of “all kinds of economic and political pressure,” saying that “it is our duty to stand by Iran” as a new wave of anti-Iran American sanctions is returning.
Iran is being punished by the US only because it refused to give in to Washington's demands, and because it is keeping up its support for the oppressed nations in the region, including Palestine and Syria.
He further reiterated the movement's support for the Palestinian cause, reiterating Hezbollah’s objection to the so-called “deal of the century” which the US administration is drawing up on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Nasrallah also noted that Hezbollah firmly stands by the Yemeni nation, which has been under attack by the Saudi regime and a coalition of its allies.
“We reiterate our support to peaceful people of Bahrain whose scholars and youths have been jailed and suppressed by the Bahraini regime,” he added.
17 sept 2018
The Lebanese authorities on Sunday released the Palestinian girl Manal Abu Seyam, aged 15, after they detained her for days.
Over recent days, Abu Seyam’s detention stirred seething anger among the Palestinian refugee community.
The girl was arrested at a hospital, to which she had been admitted following a horrific traffic accident in Rehab region, in Lebanon.
The Lebanese authorities claimed the girl entered Lebanon with her family via illegal routes and that she cannot be treated as a Syrian refugee as she was carrying Palestinian-Syrian identity documents.
Palestinian refugees from Syria have been subjected to a precarious legal status in Lebanon, where they are often treated as foreigners rather than legitimate asylum-seekers.
Hundreds of Palestinians formerly sheltered in Syria have fled the war-torn country in the hunt for a safe shelter to take provisional refuge in.
Over recent days, Abu Seyam’s detention stirred seething anger among the Palestinian refugee community.
The girl was arrested at a hospital, to which she had been admitted following a horrific traffic accident in Rehab region, in Lebanon.
The Lebanese authorities claimed the girl entered Lebanon with her family via illegal routes and that she cannot be treated as a Syrian refugee as she was carrying Palestinian-Syrian identity documents.
Palestinian refugees from Syria have been subjected to a precarious legal status in Lebanon, where they are often treated as foreigners rather than legitimate asylum-seekers.
Hundreds of Palestinians formerly sheltered in Syria have fled the war-torn country in the hunt for a safe shelter to take provisional refuge in.
4 sept 2018
Senior military source says some 800 missiles were launched in strikes mainly carried out by IAF; army source also says escalation of conflict more likely than long-term ceasefire agreement with Hamas.
A senior IDF source revealed on Tuesday that over the past year-and-a-half the army has carried out approximately 200 attacks in Syria.
According to the official, the strikes targeted mainly advanced weapon systems and infrastructure sites belonging to the Iranian Revolutionary Guards located in Syrian territory.
In total, some 800 missiles and bombs were launched at targets on Syrian soil, the majority by IAF fighter jets.
Israel has repeatedly stated that it will not tolerate an Iranian military presence of any kind in Syria, which has been supporting President Bashar Assad’s regime and abetting terror proxies such as Hezbollah in the ongoing civil war.
According to regional sources, Israel began carrying out military strikes in Syria in 2013 against suspected arms transfers and deployments by Iranian forces and their Lebanese Hezbollah allies, both Damascus's partners in Syria's civil war.
While Israel rarely takes responsibility for such strikes, the IDF has at times admitted to hitting arms convoys heading for the Shi’ite Hezbollah organization.
In addition, sporadic errant rocket fire on Israel’s Golan Heights in Syria’s civil war, which had claimed hundreds of thousands of lives and made millions homeless, has been met by the IDF with strikes.
Israeli Intelligence Minister Israel Katz used a speech on Tuesday to give a more general summary of Syria missions, prompted by a military briefing given to local media earlier in the day.
"Only just now it was published—in the name of military sources, so I can quote it too—that in the last two years Israel has taken military action more than 200 times within Syria itself," Katz told a conference hosted by the IDC Herzliya college.
"Understand the significance of this matter in terms of preserving the red line, preventing the things that Iran has done, is doing and is trying to do against Israel from Syria."
Asked to confirm Katz's comments, an Israeli military spokeswoman said Israel had carried out around 200 attacks within Syria over the past year and a half.
Hamas replenishing rocket stockpile
As negotiations continue between Israel and Hamas to achieve a long-term ceasefire on the southern border, which have been accompanied by an unofficial moratorium in the launching of incendiary balloons and rockets from the Gaza Strip, the IDF still believes that the talks will more likely end in an escalation of hostilities.
The most sensitive issues are still far from being resolved, such as Hamas’s demand to expand Gaza’s fishing zone, Israel’s demand that the terror group release two captive Israeli citizens and the bodies of two fallen IDF soldiers in return for the building of sea ports or airports for Gaza in the Sinai.
According to the IDF, four years after Operation Protective Edge, Hamas is still uninterested in seeking a military conflict with Israel, but it has fully replenished its rocket supply that was decimated during the 2014 summer offensive. However, the effects have proven longer lasting of the IDF’s strikes on Hamas’s naval capabilities and its underground terror network.
In addition, the IDF has recently completed a third of its subterranean anti-tunnel barrier, which by the end of the year will be finished at a length of 65 kilometers along the Gaza border.
Over the last year, the IDF has discovered and destroyed around 15 terror tunnels that had been dug into Israeli territory.
According to the IDF assessment, the terror group still has a single number of terror tunnels that are yet to be neutralized.
In addition, as IDF source say that those who suggest applying massive military pressure on the strip will lead to a cessation of terror activity, is mistaken.
“The terror accompanies Israel since the state was established and it will continue to accompany us for years to come. We are working against it in a decisive, systematic and ethical manner. Flattening entire neighborhoods will eventually lead to the dismantling of the army and society,” asserted the source.
“Those who say that more shells will stop the terror are selling delusions to the general public,” the source concluded.
A senior IDF source revealed on Tuesday that over the past year-and-a-half the army has carried out approximately 200 attacks in Syria.
According to the official, the strikes targeted mainly advanced weapon systems and infrastructure sites belonging to the Iranian Revolutionary Guards located in Syrian territory.
In total, some 800 missiles and bombs were launched at targets on Syrian soil, the majority by IAF fighter jets.
Israel has repeatedly stated that it will not tolerate an Iranian military presence of any kind in Syria, which has been supporting President Bashar Assad’s regime and abetting terror proxies such as Hezbollah in the ongoing civil war.
According to regional sources, Israel began carrying out military strikes in Syria in 2013 against suspected arms transfers and deployments by Iranian forces and their Lebanese Hezbollah allies, both Damascus's partners in Syria's civil war.
While Israel rarely takes responsibility for such strikes, the IDF has at times admitted to hitting arms convoys heading for the Shi’ite Hezbollah organization.
In addition, sporadic errant rocket fire on Israel’s Golan Heights in Syria’s civil war, which had claimed hundreds of thousands of lives and made millions homeless, has been met by the IDF with strikes.
Israeli Intelligence Minister Israel Katz used a speech on Tuesday to give a more general summary of Syria missions, prompted by a military briefing given to local media earlier in the day.
"Only just now it was published—in the name of military sources, so I can quote it too—that in the last two years Israel has taken military action more than 200 times within Syria itself," Katz told a conference hosted by the IDC Herzliya college.
"Understand the significance of this matter in terms of preserving the red line, preventing the things that Iran has done, is doing and is trying to do against Israel from Syria."
Asked to confirm Katz's comments, an Israeli military spokeswoman said Israel had carried out around 200 attacks within Syria over the past year and a half.
Hamas replenishing rocket stockpile
As negotiations continue between Israel and Hamas to achieve a long-term ceasefire on the southern border, which have been accompanied by an unofficial moratorium in the launching of incendiary balloons and rockets from the Gaza Strip, the IDF still believes that the talks will more likely end in an escalation of hostilities.
The most sensitive issues are still far from being resolved, such as Hamas’s demand to expand Gaza’s fishing zone, Israel’s demand that the terror group release two captive Israeli citizens and the bodies of two fallen IDF soldiers in return for the building of sea ports or airports for Gaza in the Sinai.
According to the IDF, four years after Operation Protective Edge, Hamas is still uninterested in seeking a military conflict with Israel, but it has fully replenished its rocket supply that was decimated during the 2014 summer offensive. However, the effects have proven longer lasting of the IDF’s strikes on Hamas’s naval capabilities and its underground terror network.
In addition, the IDF has recently completed a third of its subterranean anti-tunnel barrier, which by the end of the year will be finished at a length of 65 kilometers along the Gaza border.
Over the last year, the IDF has discovered and destroyed around 15 terror tunnels that had been dug into Israeli territory.
According to the IDF assessment, the terror group still has a single number of terror tunnels that are yet to be neutralized.
In addition, as IDF source say that those who suggest applying massive military pressure on the strip will lead to a cessation of terror activity, is mistaken.
“The terror accompanies Israel since the state was established and it will continue to accompany us for years to come. We are working against it in a decisive, systematic and ethical manner. Flattening entire neighborhoods will eventually lead to the dismantling of the army and society,” asserted the source.
“Those who say that more shells will stop the terror are selling delusions to the general public,” the source concluded.
1 may 2018
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Colonel Larry Wilkerson: Israel does not want to end the war in Syria; it is in their interest to keep this war going, and to keep the Iran Nuclear Deal from succeeding.
TRNN video & transcript: SHARMINI PERIES: It’s The Real News Network. I’m Sharmini Peries coming to you from Baltimore. The Israeli military attacked several bases in Hama and Aleppo countryside on Sunday. Israel is becoming notorious for their weekly attacks on Syria, targeting Syrian government forces that are backed by Iranian and Hezbollah forces. Israel has previously hit Iranian-backed militia outposts in Syria, mainly targeting arms convoys of the Lebanese Shia group Hezbollah. |
Israel regards the group, which is fighting alongside President Bashar al-Assad, as the biggest threat on its borders.
Haaretz, the Israeli newspaper, reported that some 200 missiles were destroyed and 11 Iranians were killed in the process, which Iran denies at this time. In the meantime, Netanyahu has been granted war powers authority in extreme situations by the Knesset, with only the defense minister’s approval. This in spite of the fact that the Joint Committee of Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, as well as the Constitution, Law, and Justice Committee all rejected Netanyahu’s request for such powers.On to discuss all of this with me is Larry Wilkerson. Col. Wilkerson is former chief of staff to the Secretary of State Colin Powell, and now a distinguished professor at the College of William and Mary. Thank you so much for joining me, Larry.
LARRY WILKERSON: Good to be here.
SHARMINI PERIES: Larry what is the purpose on the part of Israel pursuing this kind of aggression in Syria, antagonizing Iran at a time when this war is actually coming to a closure?
LARRY WILKERSON: Israel does not want it to come to a conclusion. Israel sees, as do the neoconservatives in this country, and some others allied with them like Richard Cheney, they see this chaos in the Middle East as conducive to their security. Not only as conducive to their security, but also as sort of allowing them to do their full greater Zionist strategy, which is to get as much territory as they can as fast as they can, to include the water in that territory, which is becoming a rather critical issue for the entire region but for Israel, certainly. And they want this condition to continue. They want it ultimately to lead to the breaking up of Syria, the breaking up of Iraq, if it can happen, and the regime change in Iran. And they see this chaos and this constant conflict in the United States instrumental to that as being strategic means by which to accomplish this purpose.So they are in no way wanting this conflict to end. They want it to continue, and to continue and continue. That’s Israel’s policy.
SHARMINI PERIES: So, Larry, what’s going on in Syria at the moment? There’s some conflicting reports. We are hearing from Haaretz in particular that some 200 missiles were destroyed by the Israelis on Syria, but now we are hearing that it’s much fewer missiles and some drone attacks. What are you hearing?
LARRY WILKERSON: Well, if we’re hearing it from Haaretz it’s probably accurate. That’s one of the few sources of media in Israel that you roughly can trust anymore. I think what I’m hearing, though, is not unlike what I just conducted in a simulation here at William and Mary with my students playing, role playing the members of the National Security Council. U.S. and National Security Council. And that is that Bibi Netanyahu and Avigdor Lieberman, his defense minister, or Likud in general, though I’m hearing that there’s some infighting in Likud, even, are, one, trying to emphasize everything they can about Iran’s perfidy so that they make sure that on May 12 Donald Trump exits the nuclear agreement with Iran.The second thing I’m hearing, and this is more fundamental, this is what we actually exercised in my simulation with my students, is that Israel is preparing everyone in the region, itself, the United States, its sugar daddy, for more robust Israeli military action inside Syria, and possibly inside Lebanon as well.
This action would be aimed primarily, initially at least, through air attacks at those storages of missiles and other munitions by Hezbollah and Iran inside Syria, and those elements of Iranian forces inside Syria that Israel feels are, in short, getting too close, and so they need to be taught a lesson.As far as what’s going on right now immediately, I’ve heard that the plumes, the explosions, the degree of rocketry, if you will, bombs dropped, whatever, was quite dramatic last night. That it lit the night sky for a range of distance and time that sort of looked a little like the opening of the war in Iraq in March in 2003. And that the Israelis were very serious about several places, you mentioned Hama and you mentioned Aleppo, that they knew the Iranians had missiles backed up and Hezbollah had missiles, and so forth. So they struck them. I think we’re looking at what could grow and grow and grow, as Israel finds no check on its power, and finds that it is actually delivering body blows, so to speak, to both Hezbollah and Iran inside Syria. So look for more of this.
SHARMINI PERIES: Now, Larry, Haaretz is reporting that 200 missiles were launched and some 11 Iranians have been killed, but the Iranians are denying that. Why are they doing that?
LARRY WILKERSON: I think some words I heard out of Israel, actually out of the Israeli Defense Force just a few moments ago, were that Iran was going to deny that any Iranians were killed because then that would mean immediately Iran has to concoct some kind of reaction, actually respond with military force or in whatever way they would deem appropriate to respond. Saving face, you might call it. So Iran doesn’t admit that any Iranians were killed. But that same Israeli source, for me, said that Iran will respond. They will respond in time, and in the means, by means that they find conducive to their interests, so Israel had best batten down the hatches. There will be a response.I don’t know which of those is more accurate. I suspect that the figures I’m hearing of 16 or 17 Iranians killed is probably accurate. And what Iran will do in response to that is probably in accordance with that second Israeli interpretation, and that is that they will do something, but we’ll not see it for a while. And we may not see it at all, but Israel will certainly feel it. What that means is probably other than conventional military strike. It could mean Hezbollah missiles. That’s what Netanyahu and Lieberman, I think, are trying to elicit. They would like some missiles shot at them. That’s their excuse for doing even more, and perhaps even entering the fray with armored artillery and other forces than just their air force. So this is precisely what Netanyahu a nd Lieberman would like, is an excuse to do even more.
SHARMINI PERIES: All right, Larry, finally, we know that the new Secretary of State Mike Pompeo swiftly took off on a trip to Saudi Arabia, and I understand he’s landing in Israel this morning. What is this trip about, and is this convention, as far as Secretary of State is concerned?
LARRY WILKERSON: I find it rather alarming that this would be the first trip that Secretary of State Pompeo would make without even having lit, apparently, at the State Department for a moment or two. And coming on the heels of Trump’s visit to Riyadh and his sword dance, and all the other things that came out of that, I find it very, very indicative of the amateur hour that this administration is that we would choose to demonstrate these kinds of priorities in the world. He did stop in Brussels. He did go to NATO. So the more important things in the world he apparently has brushed off, and moved on to Jerusalem, Riyadh, and so forth.This is an alarming condition of this amateur hour and White House right now, that they see these places as being most critical to U.S. security. They are not. If you want what they are most critical to, it is Israel’s security. And that’s why Pompeo is there, and that’s why Trump went to Riyadh. So we’re talking about, again, a single state having this kind of influence over U.S. foreign and security policy. And with the amateurs in the White House and the amateur at Foggy Bottom right now, that is an even more deeply concerning issue for me, that this would be what they would do right off the bat.
SHARMINI PERIES: And, Larry, is there anyone challenging this kind of foreign policy approach on the part of the administration there in Washington?
LARRY WILKERSON: There doesn’t seem to be. Not from inside or from outside. You look at President Macron’s recent visit, Angela Merkel’s recent visit. You look at what’s coming out of Theresa May in London and what’s coming out of Europe in general. It’s as if Trump has them kowtowed, or he has them kowtowing to him. He has them stymied. All the 16 trillion dollar GDP, the power of Europe, is in abeyance as the United States does its unilateral thing in the world. It’s quite disturbing to see this kind of thing happening, and to see the United States action being the ingredient , the elixir, the magic, if you will, in this turning of the transatlantic relation even into another tool of U.S. unilateral foreign policy, and that, too, being aimed principally and primarily at the state of Israel and that state’s security. I don’t, I don’t think that should be the number one priority of the United States of America right now.
SHARMINI PERIES: Larry, as you said, Macron’s visit was swiftly followed up by Angela Merkel in Germany. And there was speculation in the foreign policy community that this was in order to ensure that Donald Trump would keep the Iran nuclear agreement intact, which is all up in the air at the moment. But it seems that that was not a very effective in terms of their ability to convince him. What are your thoughts on that?
LARRY WILKERSON: Well, I think it was sound speculation that that was one of their purposes for coming, if not the primary purpose. But I don’t think, I think you’re right, too, I don’t think it worked at all. And what I saw was two leaders who essentially retreated to their fortress in Europe without a clue as to what to do in response to a recalcitrant American president who is going to do what he’s going to do, primarily for domestic political purposes, regardless of what they say or do. I think that was an eye opener for them in a series of eye openers for them. But I see no courage in their response to this point.
SHARMINI PERIES: Larry, I thank you so much for joining us today.
LARRY WILKERSON: Thanks for having me, Sharmini.
SHARMINI PERIES: Thank you for joining us here on The Real News Network.
Haaretz, the Israeli newspaper, reported that some 200 missiles were destroyed and 11 Iranians were killed in the process, which Iran denies at this time. In the meantime, Netanyahu has been granted war powers authority in extreme situations by the Knesset, with only the defense minister’s approval. This in spite of the fact that the Joint Committee of Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, as well as the Constitution, Law, and Justice Committee all rejected Netanyahu’s request for such powers.On to discuss all of this with me is Larry Wilkerson. Col. Wilkerson is former chief of staff to the Secretary of State Colin Powell, and now a distinguished professor at the College of William and Mary. Thank you so much for joining me, Larry.
LARRY WILKERSON: Good to be here.
SHARMINI PERIES: Larry what is the purpose on the part of Israel pursuing this kind of aggression in Syria, antagonizing Iran at a time when this war is actually coming to a closure?
LARRY WILKERSON: Israel does not want it to come to a conclusion. Israel sees, as do the neoconservatives in this country, and some others allied with them like Richard Cheney, they see this chaos in the Middle East as conducive to their security. Not only as conducive to their security, but also as sort of allowing them to do their full greater Zionist strategy, which is to get as much territory as they can as fast as they can, to include the water in that territory, which is becoming a rather critical issue for the entire region but for Israel, certainly. And they want this condition to continue. They want it ultimately to lead to the breaking up of Syria, the breaking up of Iraq, if it can happen, and the regime change in Iran. And they see this chaos and this constant conflict in the United States instrumental to that as being strategic means by which to accomplish this purpose.So they are in no way wanting this conflict to end. They want it to continue, and to continue and continue. That’s Israel’s policy.
SHARMINI PERIES: So, Larry, what’s going on in Syria at the moment? There’s some conflicting reports. We are hearing from Haaretz in particular that some 200 missiles were destroyed by the Israelis on Syria, but now we are hearing that it’s much fewer missiles and some drone attacks. What are you hearing?
LARRY WILKERSON: Well, if we’re hearing it from Haaretz it’s probably accurate. That’s one of the few sources of media in Israel that you roughly can trust anymore. I think what I’m hearing, though, is not unlike what I just conducted in a simulation here at William and Mary with my students playing, role playing the members of the National Security Council. U.S. and National Security Council. And that is that Bibi Netanyahu and Avigdor Lieberman, his defense minister, or Likud in general, though I’m hearing that there’s some infighting in Likud, even, are, one, trying to emphasize everything they can about Iran’s perfidy so that they make sure that on May 12 Donald Trump exits the nuclear agreement with Iran.The second thing I’m hearing, and this is more fundamental, this is what we actually exercised in my simulation with my students, is that Israel is preparing everyone in the region, itself, the United States, its sugar daddy, for more robust Israeli military action inside Syria, and possibly inside Lebanon as well.
This action would be aimed primarily, initially at least, through air attacks at those storages of missiles and other munitions by Hezbollah and Iran inside Syria, and those elements of Iranian forces inside Syria that Israel feels are, in short, getting too close, and so they need to be taught a lesson.As far as what’s going on right now immediately, I’ve heard that the plumes, the explosions, the degree of rocketry, if you will, bombs dropped, whatever, was quite dramatic last night. That it lit the night sky for a range of distance and time that sort of looked a little like the opening of the war in Iraq in March in 2003. And that the Israelis were very serious about several places, you mentioned Hama and you mentioned Aleppo, that they knew the Iranians had missiles backed up and Hezbollah had missiles, and so forth. So they struck them. I think we’re looking at what could grow and grow and grow, as Israel finds no check on its power, and finds that it is actually delivering body blows, so to speak, to both Hezbollah and Iran inside Syria. So look for more of this.
SHARMINI PERIES: Now, Larry, Haaretz is reporting that 200 missiles were launched and some 11 Iranians have been killed, but the Iranians are denying that. Why are they doing that?
LARRY WILKERSON: I think some words I heard out of Israel, actually out of the Israeli Defense Force just a few moments ago, were that Iran was going to deny that any Iranians were killed because then that would mean immediately Iran has to concoct some kind of reaction, actually respond with military force or in whatever way they would deem appropriate to respond. Saving face, you might call it. So Iran doesn’t admit that any Iranians were killed. But that same Israeli source, for me, said that Iran will respond. They will respond in time, and in the means, by means that they find conducive to their interests, so Israel had best batten down the hatches. There will be a response.I don’t know which of those is more accurate. I suspect that the figures I’m hearing of 16 or 17 Iranians killed is probably accurate. And what Iran will do in response to that is probably in accordance with that second Israeli interpretation, and that is that they will do something, but we’ll not see it for a while. And we may not see it at all, but Israel will certainly feel it. What that means is probably other than conventional military strike. It could mean Hezbollah missiles. That’s what Netanyahu and Lieberman, I think, are trying to elicit. They would like some missiles shot at them. That’s their excuse for doing even more, and perhaps even entering the fray with armored artillery and other forces than just their air force. So this is precisely what Netanyahu a nd Lieberman would like, is an excuse to do even more.
SHARMINI PERIES: All right, Larry, finally, we know that the new Secretary of State Mike Pompeo swiftly took off on a trip to Saudi Arabia, and I understand he’s landing in Israel this morning. What is this trip about, and is this convention, as far as Secretary of State is concerned?
LARRY WILKERSON: I find it rather alarming that this would be the first trip that Secretary of State Pompeo would make without even having lit, apparently, at the State Department for a moment or two. And coming on the heels of Trump’s visit to Riyadh and his sword dance, and all the other things that came out of that, I find it very, very indicative of the amateur hour that this administration is that we would choose to demonstrate these kinds of priorities in the world. He did stop in Brussels. He did go to NATO. So the more important things in the world he apparently has brushed off, and moved on to Jerusalem, Riyadh, and so forth.This is an alarming condition of this amateur hour and White House right now, that they see these places as being most critical to U.S. security. They are not. If you want what they are most critical to, it is Israel’s security. And that’s why Pompeo is there, and that’s why Trump went to Riyadh. So we’re talking about, again, a single state having this kind of influence over U.S. foreign and security policy. And with the amateurs in the White House and the amateur at Foggy Bottom right now, that is an even more deeply concerning issue for me, that this would be what they would do right off the bat.
SHARMINI PERIES: And, Larry, is there anyone challenging this kind of foreign policy approach on the part of the administration there in Washington?
LARRY WILKERSON: There doesn’t seem to be. Not from inside or from outside. You look at President Macron’s recent visit, Angela Merkel’s recent visit. You look at what’s coming out of Theresa May in London and what’s coming out of Europe in general. It’s as if Trump has them kowtowed, or he has them kowtowing to him. He has them stymied. All the 16 trillion dollar GDP, the power of Europe, is in abeyance as the United States does its unilateral thing in the world. It’s quite disturbing to see this kind of thing happening, and to see the United States action being the ingredient , the elixir, the magic, if you will, in this turning of the transatlantic relation even into another tool of U.S. unilateral foreign policy, and that, too, being aimed principally and primarily at the state of Israel and that state’s security. I don’t, I don’t think that should be the number one priority of the United States of America right now.
SHARMINI PERIES: Larry, as you said, Macron’s visit was swiftly followed up by Angela Merkel in Germany. And there was speculation in the foreign policy community that this was in order to ensure that Donald Trump would keep the Iran nuclear agreement intact, which is all up in the air at the moment. But it seems that that was not a very effective in terms of their ability to convince him. What are your thoughts on that?
LARRY WILKERSON: Well, I think it was sound speculation that that was one of their purposes for coming, if not the primary purpose. But I don’t think, I think you’re right, too, I don’t think it worked at all. And what I saw was two leaders who essentially retreated to their fortress in Europe without a clue as to what to do in response to a recalcitrant American president who is going to do what he’s going to do, primarily for domestic political purposes, regardless of what they say or do. I think that was an eye opener for them in a series of eye openers for them. But I see no courage in their response to this point.
SHARMINI PERIES: Larry, I thank you so much for joining us today.
LARRY WILKERSON: Thanks for having me, Sharmini.
SHARMINI PERIES: Thank you for joining us here on The Real News Network.
22 apr 2018
The Israeli army has carried out more than 100 airstrikes in Syria and Lebanon in recent years, an Israeli minister said on Saturday.
Israel’s Regional Cooperation Minister Tzachi Hanegbi said Israel has struck targets in Syria and Lebanon with more than a hundred offensives over recent years so as to thwart the transfer of advanced weapons shipments from Iran.
Hanegbi also said Hezbollah did not respond because it does not want to be dragged into a war with Israel, especially after the blow dealt to the group during the Second Lebanon War (the 2006 Israel–Hezbollah War) waged some twelve years ago.
The minister added that Iran is seeking a military position in Syria so as to open a second front in the Golan Heights, besides the Hezbollah front in Lebanon.
He vowed that Israel will not allow an Iranian presence on the Syrian border and will do whatever it takes to ensure that the Iranians get the message by all means possible.
Israel’s Regional Cooperation Minister Tzachi Hanegbi said Israel has struck targets in Syria and Lebanon with more than a hundred offensives over recent years so as to thwart the transfer of advanced weapons shipments from Iran.
Hanegbi also said Hezbollah did not respond because it does not want to be dragged into a war with Israel, especially after the blow dealt to the group during the Second Lebanon War (the 2006 Israel–Hezbollah War) waged some twelve years ago.
The minister added that Iran is seeking a military position in Syria so as to open a second front in the Golan Heights, besides the Hezbollah front in Lebanon.
He vowed that Israel will not allow an Iranian presence on the Syrian border and will do whatever it takes to ensure that the Iranians get the message by all means possible.
