Israel seizes West Bank land for controversial barrier

April 28, 2007
Israel seizes West Bank land for controversial barrier

JERICHO, West Bank (AFP) - Israel is to confiscate 23 hectares (57 acres) of Palestinian farmland in the occupied West Bank for its controversial security barrier, according to a military order seen by AFP on Saturday.

The army on Friday told the village council in Bardaleh, north of the city of Jericho, that the land would be confiscated "for security reasons" in order to extend the barrier Israel says stops suicide bombers.

Those who own or use the land are invited to apply for compensation, said the order a copy of which was given to AFP by Bardaleh council.

Israel Controls US Arms Sales To Saudi Arabia

April 4, 2007
Israel Controls US Arms Sales To Saudi Arabia

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Objections by Israel are delaying Bush administration plans for a major arms sale to Saudi Arabia and other Gulf allies aimed at deterring Iran, The New York Times reported on Wednesday.

Quoting unnamed senior U.S. officials, the Times said on its Web site that Israel was concerned the advanced weapons would erode its military advantage over regional rivals.

Israeli officials came to Washington in recent months to argue against parts of the planned sales, according to the newspaper.

It said Israel was particularly concerned about the possible transfer of precision-guided weapons that would improve the ability of Saudi warplanes to hit targets.

Israel accused of using Palestinian children as human shields

March 9, 2007
Israel accused of using Palestinian children as human shields

he Israeli army is investigating whether its troops used two Palestinian children as human shields during a house search operation in the West Bank following claims by the Israeli human rights organisation B'Tselem.

The use of human shields to deter gunmen from opening fire on soldiers was banned by Israel's supreme court and forbidden by the army. However the practice, in which soldiers force Palestinians to approach, enter and search buildings where they believe gunmen may be hiding, remains common.

BBC survey claims Israel has least positive image of any country

March 6, 2007
BBC survey claims Israel has least positive image of any country

Israel, Iran and the United States are the countries with the most negative image in a globe-spanning survey of attitudes toward 12 major nations. Canada and Japan came out best in the poll, released on Monday.

The survey for the British Broadcasting Corp.'s World Service asked more than 28,000 people to rate 12 countries - Britain, Canada, China, France, India, Iran, Israel, Japan, North Korea, Russia, the United States and Venezuela  as having a positive or negative influence on the world.

Israeli legislators begin impeachment hearings

February 14, 2007
Israeli legislators begin impeachment hearings

Jerusalem- Israeli legislators began discussions Wednesday
on whether to impeach President Moshe Katsav, who has taken leave of
absence after the attorney-general said he could be charged with
rape, sexual harassment, breech of trust and obstruction of justice.
It is the first time in Israel's history the Knesset House
Committee is debating whether to remove a sitting president.

Envoy: Iran poses no threat to Israel

February 11, 2007
Envoy: Iran poses no threat to Israel

MUNICH, Germany - Iran's nuclear program is not a threat to Israel and the country is prepared to settle all outstanding issues with the International Atomic Energy Agency within three weeks, its top nuclear negotiator said Sunday.

Ali Larijani, speaking at a forum that gathered the world's top security officials, said Iran doesn't have aggressive intentions toward any nation.

"That Iran is willing to threaten Israel is wrong," Larijani said. "We pose no threat and if we are conducting nuclear research and development we are no threat to Israel. We have no intention of aggression against any country."

Israel Looking for an Extreme Makeover

January 12, 2007
Israel Looking for an Extreme Makeover

As part of its "re-branding" strategy, according to a report in the Washington Times, Israel is turning to "the wisdom of Madison Avenue".

Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni has "met with public relations executives, branding specialists and diplomats à in Tel Aviv to brainstorm about improving the country's image by using the marketing insights first developed to sell peanut butter and Pontiacs," the newspaper reported.

"When the word 'Israel' is said outside its borders, we want it to invoke not fighting or soldiers, but a place that is desirable to visit and invest in, a place that preserves democratic ideals while struggling to exist," Livni was quoted as saying by Reuters.

Israel May Have Violated Arms Pact, U.S. Says

January 28, 2007
Israel May Have Violated Arms Pact, U.S. Says

WASHINGTON, Jan 27 — The Bush administration will inform Congress on Monday that Israel may have violated agreements with the United States when it fired American-supplied cluster munitions into southern Lebanon during its fight with Hezbollah last summer, the State Department said Saturday.

The finding, though preliminary, has prompted a contentious debate within the administration over whether the United States should penalize Israel for its use of cluster munitions against towns and villages where Hezbollah had placed its rocket launchers.

Israel tries to cut off Tehran from world markets

January 26, 2007
Israel tries to cut off Tehran from world markets

Israel is launching a campaign to isolate Iran economically and to soften up world opinion for the option of a military strike aimed at crippling or delaying Tehran's uranium enrichment programme.

Pressure will be applied to major US pension funds to stop investment in about 70 companies that trade directly with Iran, and to international banks that trade with its oil sector, cutting off the country's access to hard currency. The aim is to isolate Tehran from the world markets in a campaign similar to that against South Africa at the height of apartheid.