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Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman told the Austrian daily Kleine Zeitung that Israel will not attack Iran even if the international sanctions against Tehran fail to convince President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to give up his country’s nuclear program.
“We are not talking about a military attack. Israel cannot resolve militarily the entire world’s problem. I propose that the United States, as the largest power in the world, take responsibility for resolving the Iranian question.”
“The best way to stop Iran’s nuclear program is through severe sanctions, very severe sanctions..The resolutions of the UN Security Council are insufficient. Iran must be presented with harsher and more effective sanctions. It worked against Libya. We must isolate Iran; only this way will results be possible.”
Updates (Israel time; most recent at top)
7:53PM: Batshiite crazy Egyptian cleric of the day is this guy, who doesn’t believe Iran will nuke us because the Jooooooos are the Shiite’s masters.
6:10PM: Bullseye: According to an Egyptian daily, either Big Satan or Little Satan sunk an Iranian ship carrying weapons traveling en route to Gaza Strip, off the coast of Sudan.
5:25PM: The evil we’re up against: From the Hamas message boards (via Elder of Ziyon):
They blow up so quickly these days..
5:18PM: Israeli private security forces have repelled a Somali pirate attack on a cruise ship.
An Italian cruise ship with 1,500 people on board fended off a pirate attack far off the coast of Somalia when its Israeli private security forces exchanged fire with the bandits and drove them away, the commander said Sunday.
Cmdr. Ciro Pinto told Italian state radio that six men in a small white boat approached the Msc Melody and opened fire with automatic weapons Saturday night, but retreated after the Israeli security officers aboard the cruise ship returned fire.
Pinto said pistols were handed out to security staff and they opened fire on the pirates when they tried to clamber up the sides of the ship.
“It felt like we were in war,” Pinto said.
“They tried to put up a ladder with hooks. They were climbing up, so we reacted. We started firing. When they saw us firing — we even sprayed them with water with the firehose — they gave up and went off,” Pinto said.
The pirates followed the Melody for another 20 minutes, firing at it all the while, Pinto said.
“The passengers meanwhile were inside the cabin. There are no injuries. Only two people with scrapes,” the captain said. “Someone slipped, fell. Just a few light scrapes.”
Domenico Pellegrino, head of the Italian cruise line, said Msc hired the Israelis because they were the best trained security agents, the ANSA news agency reported.
Cruise line security work is a popular job for young Israelis who have recently been discharged from mandatory army service, as it is a good chance to save money and travel.
Lucky they were Somali pirates. Because if they were palestinian, there would no doubt be a UN Security Council session devoted to the security guard’s use of disproportionate force.
5:12PM: Why we love the Voight.
5:02PM: Israeli security officials have announced that they arrested the palestinian who murdered 13-year-old Bat Ayin resident Shlomo Nativ with an axe.
The terrorist, 26-year-old Moussa Tit (yes, that is really his name), said he carried out the attack for religious reasons and wanted to die as a martyr.
Meanwhile, here’s a picture of the aspiring martyr.
With a face like that, I think he was destined to be a terrorist.
Well that or IRS inspector.
11:15AM: Current EU President and Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek has said that the EU “underestimates the Iranian threat,” and has been critical of European officials calling for a freeze on the upgrading of ties between the EU and Israel.
Speaking of the upgrading of ties, Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg seems to have done just that, going for the bow tie look.
Or is that considered a downgrade?
9:52AM: Old: Riverdance.
New hotness: River-to-the-Sea Dance.
9:02AM: Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said he’s willing to negotiate peace with Syria, if the talks are held without preconditions.
By Syria, I assume he means that country he just said he “cannot see..as a genuine partner to any sort of agreement.”
