Ahmadinejad: Israel "On its Way to Annihilation"
Ahmadinejad called the Jewish state a "stinking corpse."
As Israel celebrated its 60th anniversary on Thursday, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad branded the Jewish state a "stinking corpse," doomed to disappear, Agence France Presse reported. "Those who think they can revive the stinking corpse of the usurping and fake Israeli regime by throwing a birthday party are seriously mistaken," Ahmadinejad said. "Today the reason for the Zionist regime's existence is questioned, and this regime is on its way to annihilation." Iran has consistently refused to recognize the legitimacy of a Jewish state in the Middle East and is the prime sponsor of Hamas and Hizballah – terrorist groups sworn to Israel's destruction.
Israel Remembers Fallen Soldiers, Renews Hope for Peace
Israelis marked Yom Hazikaron, Memorial Day.
As Israelis marked a solemn Memorial Day, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Tuesday said the Jewish state's "hope for real peace with all our neighbors was and will remain the most central aspect of our lives in this blood-soaked land," the Israeli newspaper
Ha’aretz reported. Israel mourned the 22,437 people who have died defending the land of Israel since 1860—when the first Jews moved outside of Jerusalem's walls—including 65 citizens who were killed in the past year. "We sanctify life, not death," Olmert said during a ceremony Wednesday. "I cannot help but think of how deep the moral gap is between us and our enemies... We don't have jihadists, [martyrs] or mothers who joyfully send their children with bomb belts to blow themselves up in packed buses or in busy malls." Israel has, throughout its history, consistently voiced its willingness to make peace with all of its Arab neighbors.
Hizballah Rearms with Iranian, Syrian Weapons
Hizballah threatens Israel with its massive rocket arsenal.
Nearly two years since its war with Israel, the Lebanon-based terrorist army Hizballah has more than doubled the size and scope of its rocket arsenal with weapons smuggled from Iran and Syria, and can now strike Tel Aviv with ease,
The Los Angeles Times reported. Hizballah leader Hassan Nasrallah has boasted of his group's ability to strike anywhere in the Jewish state, and other Hizballah officials have touted their close strategic ties with Tehran. During the summer of 2006, Hizballah fired more than 4,000 rockets at Israeli civilians in fighting ended by U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701, which called for the terrorist army's disarmament. The Security Council has since expressed "grave concern" over reports of continued arms smuggling to Hizballah.
Click here to learn about Hizballah's dangerous arms buildup.
Despite Incentives Offer, Iran Rejects Nuclear Halt
Iran vowed to continue its illicit nuclear work.
Iran on Monday said it would not accept any incentives package from world powers if the offer required Tehran to stop enriching uranium—a key step toward developing nuclear weapons. Reuters reported. "Those incentives that violate the Iranian nation's right [to nuclear technology] in any form will not be reviewed by the Islamic state," said Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammed Ali Hosseini. In 2006, Tehran rejected an incentives proposal offered by the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council – the United States, France, Britain, China and Russia – and Germany. Iran has rebuffed multiple binding U.N. Security Council resolutions demanding it suspend its atomic work.
Click here to learn more about Iran's nuclear program.
Aid Deliveries Halted as Terrorists Attack Convoy
Aid deliveries were halted following mortar attacks.
As Israel attempted to transfer food and fuel to civilians in Gaza on Sunday, Palestinian terrorists fired mortar shells at the aid convoy, forcing a halt to deliveries through the Karni border crossing and the Nahal Oz fuel terminal,
The Jerusalem Post reported. Police said that approximately 50 trucks carrying essential supplies were forced to turn back as a result of the attack. The European Union, the United Nations and the Palestinian Authority have blamed the terrorist group Hamas for "aggravating the humanitarian situation" in Gaza by stealing fuel and attacking border crossings. Sunday's attack is the latest in a string of terror attacks on humanitarian corridors and energy supply lines serving Palestinian civilians in both Gaza and the West Bank.
Click here to see how, despite the risks involved, Israel works to provide humanitarian assistance to the Palestinians.
