Israellycool

In an interview with Germany’s Spiegel Online, Hamas official Mahmoud “Wart” Zahar states Hamas’ intention to go after Israel’s spies.

“The good thing is that we can now collect information about our enemies and informants from foreign powers. We will look for Israel‚Äôs spies.”

“Bwahaha!”

After the interview, Zahar speaks with some of his terrorists..

“The Israelis are able to find out our whereabouts too easily. I just know there are spies in the organization. Find them and deal with them!!!!”

Meanwhile, Shin Bet Director Yuval Diskin speaks with his men…

“Zahar is going after the spies within Hamas. Little does he know that all of our information is coming from one tiny bug planted on Zahar himself!”

“…I can’t wait to see his face when he finds out the “spy” has been in front of his nose the whole time!”

Just when you thought Sheikh Catmeathead’s departure might lead to less public manifestations of bad behavior from Australian Muslim leaders, along comes Sheikh Camel Kamal Mousselmani, who is telling the world he proudly supports Hezbollah.

The nation’s most senior Shia Muslim cleric has attacked John Howard for backing Israel against Arabs and openly declared his allegiance to the Iranian-backed terrorist group Hezbollah.

Kamal Mousselmani — head of the Supreme Islamic Shia Council of Australia — said yesterday his entire community considered Hezbollah a “resistance group”, not a terrorist network, and lashed the Howard Government over its support for Israel.

“They (the Australian Government) are encouraging terrorism,” the Lebanese-born cleric told The Weekend Australian in an interview conducted in Arabic. “Australia is encouraging Israel to kill our people daily. Write that down, we are not afraid of anyone.”

Sheik Mousselmani said all of Australia’s approximately 30,000 Shi’ites were avid supporters of Hezbollah (Party of God) and haters of Israel.

“Shia in Australia consider Israel a terrorist organisation and also view those who support Israel in the same light,” he said. “That’s what we believe.

“If Australia supports Israel, they are defending terrorism. Because we believe terrorists come from Israel — not from our people — I support Hezbollah.”

Hezbollah’s military arm, the External Security Organisation, is a proscribed terrorist organisation in Australia, and supporting Hezbollah’s political and military wings is illegal under UN counter-terrorist financing declarations.

Sheik Mousselmani said Hezbollah was responsible for financially assisting and providing food and shelter for victims of the 34-day war in southern Lebanon last year.

The cleric said neither he nor Hezbollah condoned suicide terrorism missions.

“We are against the suicide bombings going on around the world,” he said.

“And Hezbollah is against it.

“Our opinion is that Hezbollah is not a terrorist group. We consider Hezbollah a resistance group. Put those words down, we are not afraid to say that.”

Sheik Mousselmani’s comments come as national security agencies step up their investigation into the Shia community in Australia, which until now has not been as closely monitored as the Sunni Muslims.

The Weekend Australian understands security authorities are monitoring financial transactions between community members and organisations abroad.

Sydney’s Arncliffe Mosque, the largest Shia place of worship in Australia, and Melbourne’s Fawkner Mosque are also understood to be of interest to the authorities.

Sheik Mousselmani confirmed his community sent money to war victims in Lebanon following last year’s conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, but said none of the money went to Shia militants.

“People send money to their families … just like Greek people and Chinese people send to their families,” he said.

“No one from our community sends money directly to Hezbollah. Hezbollah is not expecting us to send them money. They don’t need our money.”

Asked if his organisation would send money if Hezbollah were to ask for it, he said: “If they need it, that would be an entirely different matter.”

Sheik Mousselmani said there was no threat of his views radicalising young Shia men in Australia because Hezbollah’s ideology was limited to Lebanon. His community was law-abiding and would staunchly oppose any attack against Australia.

“None of our people think this way,” said Sheik Mousselmani, rejecting extremism. “We love Australia, we respect Australia, we are part of the multicultural society. We protect Australia and we work for Australia.

“But it does not mean we like Israel. If John Howard wants George Bush and Israel, that’s his problem. We’ve got nothing to do with him.”

Sheik Mousselmani said Hezbollah did not have a branch in Australia.

“Hezbollah is not operating outside of Lebanon,” he said. “Hezbollah is defending Lebanon against Israel. We either back Hezbollah or we back Israel, and Israel is killing our people.”

He said the Arncliffe Mosque, Al Zahra, in Sydney’s inner south, was strictly a place of worship and was never used as a political platform.

The 36-year-old cleric dismissed claims his community received funds from Iran to spread the ideology of religious hardliners in Tehran.

He said the Shia community in Australia took its religious orders and advice from Iraq’s supreme Islamic leader, Grand Ayatollah Ali Husaini al-Sistani. “The Shia community has nothing to hide.”

Of course, this is not exactly what Mousselmani was saying last year:

Two Australian citizens suspected of sending thousands of dollars to Lebanon to help fund Hezbollah during the recent conflict with Israel are being investigated for allegedly breaching terror financing laws.

Australia’s anti-money laundering regulator Austrac has identified at least five suspicious transactions involving two people after closely examining every financial transfer between Australia and Lebanon during the 57-day war.

—-.

The head of the Supreme Islamic Shia Council of Australia, Kamal Mousselmani, told The Australian yesterday he had also assured ASIO at the beginning of the conflict that the Shia community would not provide any financial support to Hezbollah. He said his community often sent money to relatives in Lebanon, but not to Hezbollah.

He added that he was confident there was no organised financial support for Hezbollah in Australia.

“That’s what we told ASIO,” he said.

“There is no benefit in being with Hezbollah. We support our people in Lebanon, but not Hezbollah.”

Everyone’s favorite protester is back!

You guessed it….it’s Zipper Boy (otherwise known as Purple Helmet Guy).

Tip of the Hat to Jihad Watch, which refers to our friend as Islamic Rage Boy.

Update: Snapped Shot has more on Zipper Boy, and speculates - as I did previously - that he is a “professional protester.”

This would have to be one of the best presentations on the Middle East conflict I have seen. Ever:

What Really Happened in the Middle East - Terrorism Awareness Project

That’s my way of saying go there now, watch it, and tell others about it.

The palestinian Pal Today site is reporting that the PLO (i.e. PA) has recommended that palestinian “military wings” be dissolved.

The Hebrew general radio has quoted a Palestinian source as saying that the top body of the Palestine Liberation Organization  has recommended on Thursday dissolving all the military wings of the Palestinian factions including, Al-Aqsa brigades, the military wing of Fatah movement.

According to the Palestinian source, the resolution will be implemented first in the occupied West bank.

While this would be a welcome development - albeit years after the PA committed themselves to dismantle the terrorist infrastructure under the Road Map for Peace - there’s one slight problem.

Israel’s radio quoted the MP Mohammed Dahlan, as saying : “The decision of the central committee to dissolve the Palestinian military wings applies only on the Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas movement, adding that the resolution does not include the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade.

The radio has pointed out that Dahalan did not explain whether the resolution includes the military wings of other Palestinian factions or not.

In other words, Fatah is in effect deciding that its rivals Hamas cannot have military wings, but Fatah itself can. A conscious decision by the so-called “moderate” palestinians to continue with terrorism, and avoid its commitments to Israel and the international community.

But what the hell! Let’s give them $400 million anyway.

British sailors are one thing, but Iranian naval forces discovered that you don’t f*** with Australian naval officers.

The Defence Department has confirmed a report Iranian naval forces in the Persian Gulf tried to capture an Australian navy boarding team but were repelled in the face of machine guns and “highly colourful language”.

According to the BBC, the incident took place months before Iranian Revolutionary Guards seized 15 British sailors and marines in March., setting off a tense two-week diplomatic stand-off that might have been avoided if Britain had learned from the Australian encounter.

The Britons were captured over a boundary dispute while they were searching a cargo boat.

Quoting a “military source”, BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner reports Iranian forces made a concerted attempt to seize a boarding party from the Royal Australian Navy and that the Australians “were having none of it”.

“The BBC has been told the Australians re-boarded the vessel they had just searched,” Gardner reports, “aimed their machine guns at the approaching Iranians, and warned them to back off, using what was said to be ‘highly colourful language’.”

“The Iranians withdrew, and the Australians were reportedly lifted off the ship by one of their own helicopters.”

Speaking to the ABC today, Gardner said the Australian encounter was similar to that in which the 15 British were captured.

“What I’ve been told by several sources, military sources, (is that) there was a similar encounter, in this case between the Royal Australian Navy and Iranian gunboats, some months ago, or at least some months prior to the seizing of the British sailors,” Gardner told ABC radio.

“The Australians escaped capture by climbing back on board the ship they’d just searched. I’m told that they set up their weapons.

“No shots were exchanged but the Iranians backed off and the Australians were able to get helicoptered off that ship and they didn’t get captured.”

He did not mention the name of the Australian ship. Australians ships rotate through duties in the Gulf, chiefly searching ships.

“What I’m hearing is that it was a pretty robust attitude by the Australians,” Gardner told the ABC.

“The words that somebody said to me was that they used pretty colourful language but I’m sure that alone didn’t make the Iranians back off.

“They reacted, I’m told, incredibly quickly, whereas the Brits were caught at their most vulnerable moment, climbing down off the ship (and) getting into their boats.”

Gardner said the British should be embarrassed about the incident but the issue was whether military intelligence had been passed on.

“The point of this story is not that the Aussies were fantastically brave and the Brits were a bunch of cowards, although I’m sure some people will interpret (it that way),” he said.

“Lessons should have been drawn from what happened to the Australian crew.”

Kudos to the Aussies for showing everyone the kind of fighting spirit that is needed if we are going to win this war against global Jihad.

The IDF killed 2 terrorists in a gunfight last night - one an al-Quds Brigades commander, and one a member of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades. You know, the terrorist group affiliated with PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah party. The same party which Israel Prime Minister Olmert has made clear he wants cooperate with, and whose “security forces” Olmert intends to strengthen further (update: Ha’aretz reports that both terrorists were from Islamic Jihad, even though palestinian witnesses claimed one was Fatah-affiliated). 

The Yasser Arafat Brigades, an armed wing of Fatah in the West Bank, has reaffirmed its continued resistance against Israel, while accusing the “weak” Israeli government of intensifying its actions against the Palestinian people in order to divert attention away from its “moral and financial corruption.”

 

In doing so, Israel is destroying the Palestinian people, the brigades warned.

—-

In a statement that Ma’an received, Abu Mahmoud considered the Israeli government responsible for the deterioration in the situation. He also threatened that the resistance would continue.

He added that Israel’s military intensification comes at a time when the Israeli government is at its weakest and is suffering from “moral and financial corruption among its ministers”. He described the Israeli government “as the weakest one Israel has ever had.”

“We need to deliver the end of occupation, a Palestinian state. If we don’t have hope, Hamas will export despair to the people.”

A Palestinian man wearing a Kefiyeh, a traditionsl Palestinian head dress, with a pin showing the late leader President Yasser Arafat, sits next to one of four lion statues at the Manara or Central Square in the West Bank city Ramallah.
Palestinian actor Ahmed Humani performs a scene in The Tiger, the award-winning play about late palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.

9:05PM: Hamas are claiming that they have documents proving that Fatah’s Mohammed Dahlan assassinated Yasser Arafat.

Which is interesting, considering that last year, they accused Israel of doing the deed.

Ahem…apology?

8:46PM: PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas has criticized Hamas, saying that “there is no dialogue with those murderous terrorists.”

I just wish our government was saying the same thing about the PA.

5:28PM: From the Ha’aretz news ticker:

 

 

As opposed to the not-to-be-believed Hamas leaders, which are the vast majority (except when they say they intend to destroy Israel).

 

3:58PM: Israel has opened its border with the Gaza Strip to allow passage for trapped foreigners and palestinians needing urgent medical treatment, pursuant to orders from new Defense Minister Ehud Barak. 

 

1:40PM: In the past hour,  the terrorists managed to fire a Qassam at Israel. In response, the IAF struck a Qassam rocket launcher.

You may have noticed that for the past few days, I have not been able to maintain my liveblogging. As I am sure you understand, I am a one-man operation with a very demanding day job. Unless this becomes my day job (feel free to contribute to help make this a reality!), it is always going to be a difficult proposition.

Having said that, I will try - when possible - at the very least to summarize the events of the day, when liveblogging is not feasible. I see much demand for updates from this region of the world, and my Separated at Birth posts can satisfy you for only so long.

Ok, that’s one hell of a long introduction. Now let’s see what’s been happening today.

---

Updates (Israel time; most recent at top)

 
10:05PM: It’s time for the world to switch to alternative energy sources.

According to two indectments served Monday, millions of shekels have been transferred from a Saudi organization to Hamas operatives in Jerusalem. The money was received as charity although, in reality, it was earmarked for terrorist activities.

9:30PM: I just saw this report now: Jimmy Carter has said that the US, Israel and EU must end their policy of favoring Fatah over Hamas, an action which he called “criminal.” He also stated that Hamas had proven itself to be far more organized than Fatah.

Which begs the question: Is Carter senile or just plain evil?

9:18PM: Listen to the words of one of the palestinians injured at the Erez Crossing and evacuated to an Israeli hospital:

“We were there for four days. Hamas gunmen shot me‚Ķ we had nothing to eat, nothing to drink‚Ķ they killed one of my friends, who was right next to me. They’re butchering people.”

Despite this clear statement of who was trying to kill these palestinians, the palestinian Ma’an News Agency is reporting something else entirely.

One Palestinian was killed and three wounded on Monday night as they attempted to flee the Gaza Strip through Erez Crossing. The Israeli forces opened fire on the crowds that were trying to escape Hamas-controlled Gaza into Israel.

—-

The Israeli soldiers opened fire on the Palestinian civilians while they were waiting in an area known as the ’sleeve’ at Erez Crossing. The Gazans were trying to leave through Israel and take up residence in the Palestinian West Bank.

Bear this in mind next time you hear of conflicting reports from IDF and palestinian sources, and have to decide which one to believe.

8:58PM: Ha’aretz reports that an aide to Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said that intensive negotiations are underway for BBC reporter Alan Johnston’s release. Of course, yesterday Hamas issued an ultimatum threatening to free him by force if the group holding him captive did not release him by the end of the day.

I’m guessing that Hamas are new to this whole ultimatum thing.

8:37PM: Channel 10 has reported that Israeli Deputy Defense Minister Efraim Sneh, together with Givati Brigade troops, crossed into the Gaza Strip overnight Monday in order to rescue several Fatah operatives.

Yes, our government really is that stupid.

8:15PM: Today it was revealed that another terror plot brought to you by the peaceful folk with whom we should live “side-by-side in security” was uncovered by the Shin Bet. It seems like the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) - who are only popular because of their nefarious activities - planned to carry out several attacks, including bombing a Modi’in synagogue and kidnapping US citizens in the West Bank.

One of the cell members was an illegal worker at a construction site located near the synagogue in Modi’in. Remember that next time palestinians complain of their dire economic situation. They really should be blaming their homegrown terrorists.

8:07PM: In his meeting with Israeli PM Olmert, US President Bush reaffirmed his misguided two-state vision, and equally misguided support of PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas. Mind you, given that Olmert and his government support the same vision, can we really blame Bush? After all, he cannot practically appear less accommodating to the palestinians than the Israeli government.

Bush also stated that “all options are on the table” in terms of dealing with Iran to ensure to they do not develop a nuclear weapon.

6:25PM: MDA ambulances have evacuated 7 palestinians who were wounded in Monday’s shooting attack at the Erez crossing to Israel’s Assaf Harofeh and Ichilov hospitals. As mentioned in my last update, the IDF initially prevented this, due to understandable security concerns.

 

I’m sorry, but this is unbelievable. I don’t know many other countries that would do something like this for the people hellbent on destroying them. And yet Israel is the most vilified country in the world.

 

4:30PM: So far today:

Fatah’s Central Committee decided to cut off all contacts with Hamas.

Labor Party Chairman Ehud Barak took over as Defense Minister from Amir Peretz.

The IDF prevented Magen David Adom medics from reaching the palestinian side of the Erez crossing, since palestinians could take advantage of the situation and try to infiltrate into Israel. Yes, palestinians have been known to use ambulances for their terrorist ends.

The Iranians blamed Israel for the civil war that they themselves were clearly instrumental in causing.

Prime Minister Olmert was said to be set to urge US President Bush to focus on supporting PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and isolating Hamas. Which brings to mind this great cartoon from Cox & Forkum.

 

 

4:10PM: Remember how Hamas stated that the cultural life of Gaza would remain intact? Well, that was apparently a slight exaggeration.

Christians can only continue living safely in the Gaza Strip if they accept Islamic law, including a ban on alcohol and on women roaming publicly without proper head coverings, an Islamist militant leader in Gaza told WND in an exclusive interview.

 

The militant leader said Christians in Gaza who engage in “missionary activity” will be “dealt with harshly.”

 

The threats come two days after a church and Christian school in Gaza was attacked following the seizure of power in the territory by the Hamas terror group.

 

“I expect our Christian neighbors to understand the new Hamas rule means real changes. They must be ready for Islamic rule if they want to live in peace in Gaza,” said Sheik Abu Saqer, leader of Jihadia Salafiya, an Islamic outreach movement that recently announced the opening of a “military wing” to enforce Muslim law in Gaza.

—-

“The situation has now changed 180 degrees in Gaza,” said Abu Saqer, speaking from Gaza yesterday.

 

“Jihadia Salafiya and other Islamic movements will ensure Christian schools and institutions show publicly what they are teaching to be sure they are not carrying out missionary activity. No more alcohol on the streets. All women, including non-Muslims, need to understand they must be covered at all times while in public,” Abu Asqer told WND.

 

“Also the activities of Internet cafes, pool halls and bars must be stopped,” he said. “If it goes on, we’ll attack these things very harshly.”

Tuesday June 19th

—-

11:10PM: 2 Qassams have landed in the western Negev, with 2 people suffering shock.

11:00PM: The Lebanese army has reportedly found 2 new Russian-made rockets near the Lebanese-Israeli border.

10:20PM: A Qassam has landed near a Sderot factory, hitting a container possibly holding chemicals.

9:30PM: According to the IDF, palestinians threw a grenade and fired at civilians at the Erez crossing, and soldiers shot at the gunmen. Meanwhile, the Jerusalem Post is reporting at least 2 palestinians dead.

Let’s see what I missed while relaxing on the Jewish Sabbath.

More fighting for a start. In the West Bank, Fatah terrorists stormed Hamas-controlled institutions and told Hamas-affiliated staffers not to return. For their part, Hamas threatened to retaliate against Mahmoud Abbas’ forces in the West Bank if they did not end Fatah “terrorism” against Hamas members. Seriously, you can’t make this stuff up.

Meanwhile, with hundreds of palestinians fleeing Gaza, Israel allowed senior Fatah officials and their families to move to the West Bank, via Erez crossing, with some 200 palestinians being allowed through in the past few days. Israel closed the crossing Saturday afternoon for security purposes (palestinian terrorists have a tendency to exploit situations such as this, hiding among civilians to get into Israel). It should also be noted that hundreds of palestinians later broke into the palestinian side of the crossing and began looting it.

It must have been a good day for looting, since a crowd also looted the home of deceased Fatah terror leader Yasser Arafat. I wonder if they stole the horrible red binder.

Newly appointed palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad completed

the formation of an emergency goverment today, and was to present it to

PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas for approval this evening, with the US, Israel and

European states willing to bolster it by preparing to ease sanctions in the West Bank.

For his part, Hamas leader and deposed Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh ruled out setting up a separate palestinian state in the Gaza Strip. He also appointed a new security command, replacing commanders loyal to Abbas.

In other news, Hamas gunmen exchanged fire with members of a powerful clan in Khan Yunis, and one of the main instigators of the violence, Iran, called on the palestinians to “unite against the Zionist enemy.”

8:23PM: According to the Jerusalem Post, up to 4 Katushas landed in Israel.

8:20PM: Here are two consecutive items from the Ha’aretz news ticker:

20:12     Report: Army of Islam says deal reached on release of BBC`s Johnston (Reuters)
20:14      Report: Army of Islam threatens to kill Alan Johnston (Reuters)

I guess 2 minutes is a long time in hostage negotiations.

8:13PM: No posts today until now due to the fact that my day job - the one that pays me money - didn’t allow for it.

Here’s what I missed:

Sunday June 17th

11:35PM: Abbas’ emergency government is to be sworn in on Sunday at 1:00PM.

11:25PM: Make that 4 Fatah terrorists killed.

11:22PM: 2 Fatah terrorists have been killed, and the bullet-ridden corpse of a Fatah field commander has been found in southern Gaza.

In another gory discovery, the bodies of 7 Hamasholes have been found in the basement of the Preventive Security Service headquarters.

11:20PM: Hamas are banning

terrorists from wearing masks,

Tug-of-war

Hide & Seek

Long-distance phone calls

Drinking on the job

Toilet breaks

Showing off

Mask-beret

Smoking on the job

Corrupters of the world, beware! The Iranians are going to wipe you off the map.

Iran’s parliament on Wednesday voted in favor of a bill that could lead to the death penalty for persons convicted of working in the production of pornographic movies.

With a 148-5 vote in favor and four abstentions, lawmakers present at the Wednesday session of the 290-seat parliament approved that “producers of pornographic works and main elements in their production are considered corrupter of the world and could be sentenced to punishment as corrupter of the world.”

The term, “corrupter of the world” is taken from the Quran, the Muslims’ holy book, and ranks among the highest on the scale of an individual’s criminal offenses. Under Iran’s Islamic Penal Code, it carries a death penalty.

The “main elements” referred to in the draft include producers, directors, cameramen and actors involved in making a pornographic video.

The bill also envisages convictions ranging from one year imprisonment to a death sentence for the main distributors of the movies and also producers of Web sites in which the pornographic works appear.

Besides videos, the bill covers all electronic visual material, such as DVDs and CDs. Other material, such as porn magazines and books, are already banned under Iranian law.

To become law, the bill requires an approval by the Guardian Council, a constitutional watchdog in Iran.

It is widely believed that the drafting of the bill came about as a reaction to a scandal last year, when a private videotape, apparently belonging to Iranian actress Zahra Amir Ebrahimi and allegedly showing her having intercourse with a man, became available across Iran.

The videotape was leaked to the Internet and released on a black market DVD, becoming a full-blown Iranian sex tape scandal. Ebrahimi later came under an official investigation, which is still ongoing. She faces fines, whip lashing or worse for her violation of Iran’s morality laws.

The unnamed man on the tape, who is suspected of releasing it, reportedly fled to Armenia but was subsequently returned to Iran and charged with breach of public morality laws. He remains in jail.

In an exclusive interview with the British newspaper The Guardian early this year, Ebrahimi denied she was the woman in the film and dismissed it as a fake, made by a vengeful former fiance bent on destroying her career.

In recent years, private videotapes have increasingly been leaked to the public in Iran, riling the government and many in this conservative Islamic country, where open talk of sex is banned and considered taboo.

However, pornographic material is easily accessible through foreign satellite television channels in Iran. Bootleg videotapes and CDs are also available on the black market on many street corners.

I wonder if they’ll be celebrating the inevitable demise of such depraved behavior in the Islamic Republic over a cup of urine or - better yet - breast milk straight from the source.

This story sums up Australia beautifully:

Emergency workers have come to the rescue of a town cut off by floodwaters in true Antipodean style - by delivering a large consignment of beer by boat.

The tiny town of Hinton, in the Hunter Valley wine-growing region, has been surrounded for five days by the floodwaters that have devastated parts of New South Wales after storms and torrential rain at the weekend.

The murky brown water, the authorities said, contained sewage and other pollutants, but its 400 inhabitants were more worried about a lack of beer.

A plentiful supply was required to celebrate a much-anticipated rugby league match between New South Wales and Queensland yesterday.

For days State Emergency Service volunteers had been ferrying staples such as bread and milk to the stranded town in flat-bottomed boats.

Yesterday, they added 12 kegs and 36 cartons of beer to their cargo.

“They’ll be able to watch the game and have a cold one tonight,” said Philip Campbell, a SES spokesman. The local watering hole, the Victoria Hotel, was in danger of becoming a real-life version of one of Australia’s best known ballads, The Pub With No Beer. The song, by the late country singer Slim Dusty, laments that “there’s nothing so lonesome, so morbid or drear, than to stand in a bar of a pub with no beer“.

Words to live by.