'Israel is planning new war on neighbors'

Israel is reportedly planning to launch a new war to strengthen its position in the Middle East, following recent political reforms in regional states.

A Western diplomat in the Jordanian capital Amman said on Wednesday that Israel has decided to attack Syria and Lebanon following the downfall of Hosni Mubarak's regime in Egypt, which served as a great loss to Tel Aviv, the Lebanese daily Assafir reported.

The diplomat reiterated that since Tel Aviv is seriously worried about consequences of the Egyptian revolution and future developments in the region, it wants to start a new war in the Middle East in order to turn the situation back in its favor.

"Israel intends to overthrow Bashar al-Assad government in Syria in a matter of weeks after a war with Lebanon's resistance movement of Hezbollah east of Lebanon, near the border with Syria,” Assafirquoted the diplomat as saying.

He added that Israel has already informed Washington about the plan.

Egypt, which shares a long border with Israel, was the first Arab country to sign a peace treaty with Tel Aviv in 1979, following secret negotiations at the Camp David resort in the US.

For years, Egypt helped Israel impose a deadly siege on the Gaza Strip by closing the Rafah crossing to Palestinians, keeping Gaza's 1.5 million population trapped in the tiny coastal enclave.

The Israeli regime now fears that by the opening of Rafah, Hamas, the democratically-elected government of Gaza, will gain more power. 

Bulgaria To Sell Off Defense Firm VMZ Sopot

SOFIA, Bulgaria - The Bulgarian government on Jan. 27 said it had agreed to a strategy for the full privatization of defense giant VMZ Sopot.

According to a statement, there will be a public tender of 100 percent of VMZ's capital, with potential buyers required to have previous experience in defense production and management.

Bulgaria's biggest defense firm and the last of the country's communist-era defense giants to have remained state-owned, VMZ Sopot produces a large range of missiles and artillery ammunition, as well as civil-use machinery and household appliances.They must also present a three-year business plan for the firm's development under the sale proposal, which still has to be approved by parliament.

A lack of strategic investors in previous defense company tenders has led other state-owned firms to morph into joint-stock companies, owned primarily by their managers and staff.read more

Israel to boost its missile shield--Arab Defence News

The News is Translated By Google Translate So Errors are Accepted:


Israeli military began to create a third battery of anti-missile intercept long-range high-altitude, type (Arrow), near Tel Aviv, to strengthen the defenses of anti-ballistic missiles in Iran. The deployment, development and installation of other systems for missiles and missile short-and medium-term assessments of the Jewish state confirms fears that the developing cities and villages facing the rocket bombardment on a large scale and ferocity is unprecedented. Batteries and the current object (Arrow 2), produced by the air space industries owned by the State of Israel with the participation of company (Boeing) published in the American air base in southern Israel and the other near the base of the city (Hadera) in the north. It is expected to be added other batteries in the future. A new battery last Mdemaqa protection and gives the Air Force the ability to launch a missile intercept more than one goal ahead. Will be watching the new battery fire control center (Citron Tree), which was established along with a missile (Arrow) in the past two decades, which will be controlled also Bbtareeten two more are currently in place.Source & read more

"Initiating a war with Iran will only bring disaster upon Israel."

Israel's Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Gabi Ashkenazi has reportedly suggested that a military action against Iran's nuclear facilities would have irreparable consequences for Tel Aviv. 

"A military strike is not the right way to foil it [Iran's nuclear program]," Ashkenazi said. "Initiating a war will only bring disaster upon Israel."

According to a Wednesday article in the prominent Israeli daily Ha'aretz, there are two fronts within the Tel Aviv regime over launching an offensive against Iran.

The first warmonger group includes hawkish Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak; and the second group, who is worried about the aftermath of a strike, includes Ashkenazi himself, Head of Israel's Mossad spy agency Meir Dagan, Military Intelligence Chief Amos Yadlin and Head of the Shin Bet domestic intelligence body Yuval Diskin.

Last spring, Ashkenazi was assured by Netanyahu that his views would be heard over a military confrontation, according to the article.

However, the Israeli defense minister appointed Major General Yoav Galant as Ashkenazi's successor. Ashkenazi will retire next month.

Meanwhile, Tamir Pardo, who favors a military action against Iran, was appointed as the new chief of Israeli spy agency, replacing Dagan.

Earlier on Tuesday, Netanyahu called for "a credible military option against Iran," insisting that the military effort should be taken by the 'international community' and led by the United States.

The fresh rhetoric comes a week after Tehran invited envoys representing "geographical and political groups" in the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to visit Iran's nuclear sites.

In addition to Iran's recent invitation, the IAEA continues to conduct its regular inspections and camera surveillance of Iran's nuclear facilities.

Iranian officials and lawmakers have hailed the invitation as a major step toward proving Iran's policy of "nuclear transparency" to the international community.

As an IAEA member state and a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, Iran has repeatedly refuted repeated Western accusations that it has a hidden military agenda