One of the core reasons for the bedrock of fanaticism in the Middle East is over Israel and its occupation of Palestinian lands. This hatred and sense of injury amongst Middle Eastern countries is deep and genuine. The creation of the Balfour Declaration, which ceded Palestinian lands to Israel, and after WW II , displaced hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, who lost their homes and were forced to live in settlement camps. Many still live in these tent cities, to this day. And, because much of the westernized world supports Israel, we have become part of the equation of hate.
Not much dialogue in the mainstream press deals with the real reason behind Iran’s determination to develop nuclear weapons: Israel. Israel who sits within striking distance of Iran. Those involved in the diplomatic efforts leading to the turnover of the Gaza Strip back to Palestine sincerely hoped this would defuse hatreds and reduce terrorism. Unfortunately, this has been proven wrong.
A steady stream of Hamas and Hezbollah terrorist trained agents have entered the Strip, carrying weapons including the possibility of dirty bombs. The concern over this is so great, Israeli citizens have been warned, not to touch anything resembling an unexploded shell or missile. With Ariel Sharon unable to lead due to the severity of the stroke he suffered, Israel perhaps is more vulnerable now than ever before in modern history.
Enter Iran, who has always been a major factor in the training and funding of Palestinian terror activities. In the last few weeks their President has made statements like the one he made in Mecca, Saudi Arabia – “President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran expressed doubt on Thursday that the Holocaust took place and suggested that Israel be moved to Europe.” His comments, reported by Iran’s official news agency IRNA from a news conference he gave, follow his call in October for Israel to be “wiped off the map,” which generated widespread international condemnation.
Sadly, according to Iran Focus, the internet’s best source of information on life inside Iran, mainstream Iranians do not support this radical regime. In fact Iran Focus has experienced a series of DDOS attacks they have traced back to Tehran, which is becoming increasingly oppressive towards the media there. “Exiled journalist Faramarz Sajedi said in a telephone interview from Istanbul that even though the attacks on Iran Focus fall into a well-established pattern, they mark a new level of “anti-Internet” activity by the Iranian regime.
“The clerical authorities in Tehran have never shied away from breaching international agreements to stop the free flow of information to Iranians living in Iran. They have jammed satellite broadcasts in the past and they have an established policy of filtering websites that they don’t want Iranians in Iran to see. But this would be one of the first incidents where Tehran is attacking a website whose readers are mostly outside Iran”, the journalist said.
“Iranian fatwa approves use of nuclear weapons
Sun. 19 Feb 2006
The Sunday Telegraph
By Colin Freeman and Philip Sherwell in Washington
Iran’s hardline spiritual leaders have issued an unprecedented new fatwa, or holy order, sanctioning the use of atomic weapons against its enemies. In yet another sign of Teheran’s stiffening resolve on the nuclear issue, influential Muslim clerics have for the first time questioned the theocracy’s traditional stance that Sharia law forbade the use of nuclear weapons. One senior mullah has now said it is “only natural” to have nuclear bombs as a “countermeasure” against other nuclear powers, thought to be a reference to America and Israel.”
What many Americans do not comprehend is that Israel’s nuclear capabilities are very good indeed. And if Iran should be as near, as some sources claim, to creating a nuclear missile capable of striking Israel in 4 months, we are in big trouble. For Israel will strike back, and possibly create an unprecedented nuclear holocaust in the region, if Iran attacks them
This is, if possible even more inimicable to western security than all of al Qaeda put together. We have had protracted diplomatic dialogue with Israel on this and other strategic concerns, but they reserve the right to defend their country at all costs. Now Russia, in a move that has Western nations extremely worried, has held semi-secret meetings, that give all the appearance of diversionary manouevering, with Iran.
According to intelligence filed by Debka online dated today, representatives from Tehran have met with Sergei Kirienko, ex-Prime minister, now head of Russia’s atomic regulatory commission. He is allegedly working out a deal that would allow Iran to continue enrichment programs for fissile materials in Iran, and carry out the rest inside Russia. This creates a problem internally for Vladmir Putin, who at least publicly is supportive of EU measures.
According to Debka: “DEBKAfile’s intelligence sources add: Washington and Jerusalem are troubled most by the prospect of the Kirienka delegation, which does not include a single pro-American member, drafting an accord for hands-on Iranian involvement in the joint uranium enrichment venture on Russian soil. http://www.debka.com/
Add to this the fact that Secretary of State Condaleeza Rice has failed to secure promises both from King Abdullah in Saudi or from Hosni Mubarak of Egypt to stop funding Hamas, and we have one highly unstable and dangerous scenario building rapidly in the region.
How the United States handles this situation will either create the setting for a nightmarish set of consequences or begin the long road to stabilization in the Middle East. We must exert every possible means to prevent and forestall any type of activity indicating an attack by either Israel or Iran. Failure could mean this planet will pay an enormous price.
