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- George Mitchell, the Obama Administration’s special envoy for the Middle East, is set to visit the region next week to advance the two-state solution, followed by El Presidente himself in June.
- Israeli Environmental Protection Minister Gilad Erdan responded to Obama’s comments in Turkey regarding the latter’s commitment to a two-state solution, including the process launched at Annapolis, by saying “Israel does not take orders from [Barack] Obama.”
- Middle East envoy Tony Blair is also putting the pressure on Israeli PM Binyamin Netanyahu
- Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak spoke with Israeli PM Binyamin Netanyahu and invited him to Egypt for talks. Not surprisingly, a statement from the official Egyptian news agency on the conversation did not mention an invitation.
Updates (Israel time; most recent at top)
11:12PM: First we heard the “it was an accident” excuse (3:16PM update).
Then we heard the “he was provoked by assaults and goading” excuse (4:52PM update).
Now comes the third justification I have heard from palestinian “eyewitnesses” of today’s terror attack: it was revenge for his family house being destroyed.
Eye witnesses told the Palestine Telegraph reporter the young boy tried to take revenge as the family house was being destroyed in front of his eyes.
Why can’t they just make up their mind which one it was?
Answer: Because it was none of the above.
11:05PM: Earlier today, Israel carried out a successful test launch of its Arrow II interceptor missile.
From Israel Aerospace Industries:
The Arrow Weapon System has managed to complete this morning (April 7, 2009) another successful test. This is the 17th experiment of Arrow intercept and the 11th examined, as they were developed as part of the improvement program, ASIP, the collaboration between Israel and United States.
The target missile visualized the future threat in several extremely challenging characteristics.
The target trajectory visualized an operational scenario and all of the weapon’s system assembles performed in their operational form.
After the launch of the target the weapon system has entered the “play” mode and started its operation. The fire control radar (FCR) acquired the target and sent its data to the battle management command and control (BMC). A defense plan was issued and a mission command was sent to the launcher. The interceptor was launched towards its target with its improved functions.
The interceptor has performed successfully and eliminated the target.
Representatives from the Israeli missile defense organization (IMOD) cooperating with the US missile defense agency (MDA) both took part in the Arrow program.
The success of this project is not only an enormous accomplishment but an important milestone in developing and improving the operational abilities and gives response to the ballistic missiles threat that is only increasing in the region.
The Minister of Defense, Mr. Ehud Barak witnessed the launching from an IDF helicopter when he was on his way back from a reconnaissance on the Gaza division.
The minister of defense got updated with the launching results. The minister mentioned: “the future protecting system is an important project for Israel. The combination of the “Iron Dome”, which also had a successful launching last week, with the “Arrow” system and the “Improved Arrow” will give Israel a well and an immediate protection from the strategic threats. The defense system is working intensively to provide a multi- layered defense system from missiles and rockets to insure the safety of Israel citizens.
The CEO of the Ministry of Defense, Mr. Pinchas Bochris, mentioned that the success of the launching is an important step in the process of developing a protection system from futuristic threats.
[click to enlarge]
10:06PM: Here is a stark example of the (in)famous Israeli Yihiye B’Seder (“it will be fine”) attitude:
Some 30,000 Israelis are expected to flock to Sinai by way of the border crossing at Taba for the Passover holiday this week despite stern warnings issued by the government’s anti-terror office.
And Jews are supposedly smart.
9:55PM: Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has authorized the transfer of $12 million to the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, to pay employees of the PA, which Netanyahu has in the past conceded are not our peace partners.
8:15PM: Here’s an interesting interview with the Shah of Iran.
Bear in mind that Israel had relatively good relations with Iran during the Shah’s reign.
7:17PM: If you thought the BBC headline for a story on today’s terror attack was bad (see 3:20PM update), here’s the headline from The Guardian:
Israeli police shoot motorist during house demolition
6:32PM: Here’s a picture of today’s terrorist bad driver Iyyad Azmi Awisat.
4:52PM: While some residents of Sur Baher claimed today’s terrorist was not really a terrorist, but really just a naughty boy bad driver, others beg to differ. From Ma’an News:
Local sources in Sur Bahir said it was likely the man was provoked, noting that soldiers had been assaulting and goading residents throughout the morning.
So to reconcile the two versions, the man was assaulted and goaded into driving really badly.
3:22PM: Who’d have thought Syrians like gefilte fish?
A Syrian brown bear eats gefilte fish, a traditional fish dish eaten during the upcoming Jewish holiday of Passover, at the Ramat Gan Safari near Tel Aviv April 7, 2009. REUTERS/Amir Cohen (ISRAEL RELIGION ANIMALS ENVIRONMENT)
3:20PM: BBC take on the terror attack: Palestinian killed in demolition
I kid you not.
3:16PM: There was yet another terror attack today, with a palestinian motorist attempting to run over Border Policemen at a checkpoint at the east Jerusalem village of Sur Baher. Ironically, the Border Policemen were themselves sealing off the East Jerusalem home of another palestinian motorist terrorist who killed three Israelis last year.
Here’s what happened according to Ynet:
The automobile, a white Seat Ibiza, left the village of Sur Baher and approached the Border Guard officers stationed at the checkpoint at the entrance to the village. The officers tried to get out of the way of the oncoming car, but three of them were lightly injured in the legs nonetheless. The unit commander fired at the car, hitting and critically injuring the driver, Iyyad Azmi Awisat, 20, from Jabel Mukaber. Awisat died of his wounds a short time later.
Of course, we have once again been subjected to the usual denials:
Residents of the village said that they were unsure the attack at the checkpoint was intentional.
At this rate, one would be led to believe that palestinians are the world’s worst drivers. (I prefer to think of them as the world’s worst liars).
